Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Things are unfolding quicker than anticipated and multiple angles are coming into play for which the meeting was called in by COAS wherein concerned top men of Government concerning Defence, Interior, Foreign Affairs and Backup to PM were called in.

These skirmishes broke out; because Pak side is trying to plug in the holes on the border (Torkham) and formalize entry and exit of unwanted/undesired travelers from Pak’s perspective. Variety of reasons led Afghan forces to start unprovoked firing - the most agreed upon reason was to stop Pakistani Border forces stop building the gate and they started firing on the post at the border; not only that; to make things further complicated; they started firing onto the Bacha Mina (civilian area) in response to which Pak army shelled at Kunar (as per reports from Afghan media) and thousands (I doubt that number) had to flee.

Now; Afghanistan is definitely upping the ante when their General is saying on main steam media in Afghanistan:

" If even a single bullet came from Pakistan side. WE will unleash hell on them just like we did with Changez Khan, Angraiz (british + American’s), Russia, Sapawi and those "murdaar khane wale Punjabi "

This situation has gone out from DGMO’s level and needed higher level of contacts - which was discussed in the meeting held at GHQ last week.

Unconfirmed info from pvt source in Landi Kotal was tank movement was seen on Monday (can’t verify the 100% accuracy of this claim) but one thing is sure that situation is complex than simple exchange of firing between Afghan Forces & FC and requires more than just Army operation from our side.

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

I do not know how to post videos; I am talking about the video (Yesterday) captured by a cell phone during the first informal chat between Pak-Afghan border security officials, which I am sure all of the concerned members (vis-à-vis this episode) would have seen it; the translation (not literal) of this video in circulation is as follows :

Afghan border forces were invited to Pakistani side to hear their complaints about Pakistan and resolve issues.

In the video; Pakistani officers are just listening and trying to keep the situation as amicable as possible; They start listening to Afghan counterparts and noting their grievances to be sent ahead to higher-ups.

The Afghan officer is all emotional throughout and it was never wise to respond to his allegations with allegations at that time but when it was enough and Afghan officer crosses the line; then the Pakistani officer shows him mirror and then he was out of track again.

As usual he is saying the same thing that Mr Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan is sheltering the top commanders of Afghan Talibans, also said that OBL etc. were found on your soil and Pakistan is creating problems for us.

When told that we are even treating your soldiers in our hospitals then he responded that we were attacked in an area where our 300 soldiers got injured and 100 died and he blamed Pakistan for this.

He is not even listening to the explanation of Pakistani officer that we don’t have forward positions over there then how come we have crossed your posts and attacked such a big gathering of yours? But he doesn’t listen. When told that someone passes through your post and you don’t even respond to that but would just blame us for who is coming from your side and attacking you....the officer again goes to OBL.

Now Pakistani side responds and when asked all those talibs you are feeding by slaughtering sheep for them, he does not even listen... After that he is being precisely told where are talibs camping along your posts and how Afghan officers are feeding them and doing meetings with them, given ID cards for smooth crossing from Afghan side....this is followed by a long silence.....Afghan officer is asked about solution to all this then he proposes that we should not hit on each other territory, when asked that what about fire coming from your area, he is adamant we should not hit at each-others area.

He does mention of about thousand people that have been forced to migrate from their area, to that the Pakistani officer says that when fire is coming on us from that area and you are doing nothing to stop it then what should we do?

Why don’t you stop the fire coming from that area? Afghani officer says again that no we should not fire at each other....Pakistani officer tells him that we are here to solve problems with each other and if you start talking about Palestine, Chechnya etc then what's the fun in it... After that few formal sentences and video ends.

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Afghan side mobilized troops and that too - 2 Divisions that is almost quarter of their entire army - are they ******* serious?!? on their side first; and Pak army is responding by mobilizing troops on our side of the border.

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Well - if this turns ugly; then it will have serious ramifications for Pak on the international scale:

There could be a full scale war type of situation; where Afghan National Army (ANA) is upping the game to further destabilize Pak on this front (this has been repeatedly discussed last month that Army will be engaged on this side of the Pak border).

There could be serious implications - perhaps there is big game going back of it..

1st. Afghan will fight with us on the border and they will try to unite Pashtuns in Afghanistan against Pak and that Pakistan is enemy and killing our men at border and most of the men at the border will be Pashtun from ANA... and if there are lots of casualties on Afghan side....this will serve the purpose of ANA.

2nd: Afghanistan and India will cry at the international forums that Pakistan is now attacking Afghanistan to support Taliban there by engaging ANA at the border and killing our army men in direct fight so that Taliban can capture Kabul.. and Uncle Sam will quietly support them behind the scene..

3rd: India will then try to sell/give its artillery and other weapons to ANA and will also try to send their military into Afghanistan to support ANA in their fight with PA and Taliban...

Situation requires proactive political leadership to control the situation and it could be disastrous to have single line of action when whole regional politic gamut is encircle and squeezing Pak as discussed earlier.

I am over and out - will update when I get time to log in as info is coming in every min re the situation.

Stay blessed!

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

In such a situation our Government should have reached out to United Nations Security Council and moved a resolution for bringing notice to this situation and asking for UN observers on Afghan side as Durand line is not an internationally disputed border.

Reactive mode is not what will work in this situation - I will not be surprised if the offending party or group that is instigating them take the first movers advantage.

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Heavy Artillery firing from ANA is going on - I am amazed how foolish some Afg leaders can be; they are definitely not doing it on their own for they own their actual worth to fight a disciplined army; it is to further isolate Pak in international comity (as posted above).

Need Foreign Minister to highlight the case on diplomatic front; these so called foreign policy mavericks and semi retired Advisors can not even swing banana republics state in our favor.

If reports (unofficial) are true; it can be ugly. Specially, if less trained ANA starts shelling; civilian population in Landi Kotal will come under fire and there is no way to evacuate such huge population in that area. If PA (Pak Army) responds it may even use brute force to respond and should control Wakhan corridor area as well to teach a lesson.

Anyone knows; which Pak channel is reporting it? Please and thank you!!!

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

It is in Karzais favor to keep pushing Pashtuns to pressurize Ghani - with this he may gain small political victory but it will harden the stance of PA which will eventually create more troubles for Afghans on both sides of the border.

Let's see - how this unfolds - will not be a full scale war but will further sour already sour relations between Pak and our neighbor!

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

i think our army needs to start using bigger weapons. How about some Hatfs tht should put them in their place.
we can't have our soliders die everyday from this BS. Time to escalate and teach those afghans where they belong!

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Media has created super hype in Afghanistan; they are using it as one to inflate ego and unite Pashtuns while also taking a political shot at Ghani.

This also does not augur well when Shamand TV of Afghanistan claimed & quoted Asfandayar Wali as backing and supporting Afghanistan in this skirmish and replayed his fathers famous statement of " I am Afghan first, Muslim second and lastly Pakistani".

Basically they want to escalate and bring themselves up and Pakistan down- waiting for Govt's reaction and approach to UNSC or other forum to expose the whole episode!

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Using heavy artillery and any air to surface misiles will cause casualties that Karzais want!

Wars -even cross border fighting a are not fought only militarily all over the world - tweaking and mobilizing opinion to create perceptions is the first chapter of the whole exercise.

If political support is absent; any retaliation from the other side will make PA vs India, Afghanistan and US.

It is not a straight fight - ramifications are multiple as stated above. Hope sense prevails and it doesn't escalate!

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Are you an Afghan? How would you rile up paxtuns by targeting shelling of afghan army?

Have you seen the protests and pakistani flags in the tribal areas? This whole pashtunistan is BS. Even if it wasn't, all the casualties from afghan firing has been pashtuns on the border.

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

Time to kick all the Afghans out of Pakistan

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

"Sense" prevailed or put in by their masters in the Afghan camp - National Security Council in Kabul (obviously after directions from 15,000kms away) asked ANA to stop unprovoked firing.

It was Afghan side that could escalate or diffuse the situation as PA was just reacting to it.

Ceasefire and five of their border posts destroyed and captured! Well done PA!

There had been demands with PA for much more aggressive response than this; but chest thumping in recent history has created Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq like situations.

Job well done militarily - comments re political and diplomatic fronts - anyone?!?

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Re: Firing between Pak-Afghan Border

So our Army reacted afterall