The head of Nangarhar tribal’s affairs department says Pakistan has advanced 43 kms insideAfghanistan since the fall of the Taleban.
Baryalai Gardiwal told reporters after attending a gathering
Baryalai Gardiwal told reporters after attending a gathering of hundreds of tribal chiefs on July 16 that Pakistan has crossed the Durand Line in Kama, Goshta and Lalpoor areas. Also the frontier has been breached in parts of Kunar province, he said.
He claimed Pakistan has issued identity cards to Afghan nationals in these areas. He said the local authorities have been able to prevent the Pakistani authorities in some areas, but did not reveal any details. “Pakistan wants to push the Afghan government into war,” he declared.
He claimed that Afghanistan would take back all the territories occupied by Pakistan in the last 10 years. According to him, Pakistan’s intention was to gain control of the Kabul and Kunar rivers.
Meanwhile tribal elders have also confirmed the presence of Pakistani forces on the Afghan side of the Durand Line. Malak Nader Khan Khogakhail, the tribal leader in the Goshta area, said the Khapakh-Kandaw pass was under the control of the Afghan government ten years ago but now with the Pakistani forces.
Personal gain
Malak Abas, the tribal leader in Doorbaba district, blamed the situation on tribal leaders in the border areas who wanted to get benefits from both governments.
“Pakistan has crossed into Afghanistan with the help of tribal leaders in the past and they will do it again,” he said.
He charged the Afghan government of ignoring the border areas. It is Pakistan that supplies gas and electricity, and makes the roads in the border areas, he added.
Malak Abas, who said people were tired of petitioning the government for help, wondered how come Afghans who were agitated by Pakistan’s taking over land were not protesting the supply of electricity and water from Pakistan.
The government does not care, said Sayed Omar Palawan, the former police commander in Nangarhar referring to the many rehabilitation projects for the province that have not been implemented.
Assistant governor of Nangarhar, Mohammad Haneef Gardeewal, confirmed the development projects have remained on paper. He claimed he was not aware the Pakistan forces had advanced 43 kms from the border.
