Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s adviser to Information, Barrister Saif, has called on the federal government to approve the conditions (Thurs) for an urgent delegation to Afghanistan, and emphasizes the need for immediate dialogue.
In a statement, Barrister Saif emphasized that it remains the highest priority of the provincial government to ensure that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s residents are the highest priority of the provincial government.
He criticized the federal government for allegedly politicizing the question of terrorism and questioned why similar objections were not raised when chief ministers from Punjab and Sindh made foreign visits. He said such actions reinforce the provincial sense of deprivation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign office has confirmed reports that Afghan authorities were trying to construct a border post on the Pakistani side at Torkham. This follows the closure of the Torkham border transition last Friday, which has disturbed movement and trade.
The Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed these efforts during a weekly orientation that highlighted the ongoing challenges at the border.
Shafqat Ali Khan explained that Afghan authorities had tried to create a post on the Pakistani side of the border, which would have been a violation of existing protocols.
The Pakistani government has officially raised concerns with Afghan authorities and has called on them to solve the problem through dialogue and negotiations.
“We have told Afghan authorities that this question can be conducted through proper discussions,” said Shafqat Ali Khan.
