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Afghanistan, Pakistan sign peace deal but Taliban refuses to recognise border

Kabul, Oct 19 (NVI) Owing to the intervention of Qatar and Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan today agreed to have peace, mutual respect and strong and constructive neighbourly relations even as the Taliban regime refused to acknowledge the border between the two countries as being an “internationally-recognised” frontier.

Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been intermittently fighting militarily over the last 10 days, reached the agreement in Doha during delegation-level talks, led by their Defence Ministers.

After the talks, Qatar issued a statement saying Pakistan and Afghanistan “agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries”.

It said the two countries also agreed to “hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner, thus contributing to achieving security and stability on both the countries.”

The statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Qatar expressed hope that “this important step will contribute to ending tensions” on the Durand Line, “the border between the two brotherly countries”.

However, soon after, the Taliban regime said there was no mention of “border” in the talks and maintained that it does not recognise the “imaginary” Durand Line as the “border” between the countries.

In view of the Afghan side’s public objections, Qatar made corrections in its statement in which the Durand Line had been referred to as a “border.”

This correction is being regarded by the Afghan side as a notable political achievement for the Islamic Emirate’s (Taliban’s) delegation in the Doha negotiations.

The Taliban regime, in its Press Release issued by spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, said:

“Negotiations between representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, held in Qatar, have concluded with the signing of a bilateral agreement. We wish to express our profound appreciation to the brotherly nations of Qatar and Turkey for their instrumental role in facilitating the negotiations that led to this agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, both sides reaffirm their commitment to peace, mutual respect, and the maintenance of strong and constructive neighborly relations. Both sides are committed to resolving issues and disputes through dialogue.

A comprehensive and meaningful ceasefire has been mutually agreed upon.

It has been decided that neither country will undertake any hostile actions against the other, nor will they support groups carrying out attacks against the Government of Pakistan.

Both sides will refrain from targeting each other’s security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure.

In the future, a mechanism will be established, under the mediation of intermediary countries, to review bilateral claims and ensure the effective implementation of this agreement.” (NVI)

Pakistan again strikes Afghanistan, 8 cricketers among 15 killed

Kabul, Oct 17 (NVI) Violating the ceasefire, Pakistan again carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan tonight, killing over 15 civilians, including women, children and 8 club-level cricketers, besides injuring many others.

This blatant action provoked Afghanistan which resorted to firing and shelling on the Pakistani military posts along the border, with reports suggesting killing and wounding of several Pakistani soldiers.

The Pakistani airstrikes targeted civilian areas and residential houses in Argun and Barmal districts of Paktika Province of Afghanistan, reports said.

According to TOLO News outlet of Afghanistan, at least 8 club-level cricketers were killed and 4 injured in the Pakistani strikes in Argun area.

These players had returned to Argun from Sharana, the center of Paktika, after the end of their matches when they were hit by the Pakistani military, it said.

At least 7 civilians, including children and women, were killed and 8 were injured in the bombing on Barmal.

Angered by these strikes, the Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts along the border.

There were reports that several Pakistani soldiers have been either killed or injured in this retaliatory action by the Afghan forces.

The details are still trickling in.

It may be recalled that the two neighbours had agreed on a 48-hour ceasefire effective from 5.30 PM Afghanistan Time (6.30 PM India Time) on October 15 after Pakistan requested for it.

The Pakistani request came through Saudi Arabia and Qatar after Afghan forces carried out an intense onslaught on the border, in reaction to the Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan on October 10.

The ceasefire duration was to end this evening but the two sides had agreed to continue it.

However, Pakistan did not respect it and launched brazen airstrikes inside Afghanistan,  violating its sovereignty again. (NVI)

Balochistan: BLA claims responsibility for 4 operations

Fighters of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) at some undisclosed location. File Pic

‏Quetta, Oct 15 (NVI) Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed to have carried out four separate operations in  Balochistan in which occupying Pakistani army was targeted, the weapons of police personnel were seized and a blockade was conducted on a main highway where two suspects were apprehended.

The operations were carried out in Turbat, Quetta and Kharan districts, BLA spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said.

Giving details, he said Baloch Liberation Army freedom fighters attacked an outpost of occupying Pakistani army on main highway in the outskirts of Turbat yesterday.

Freedom fighters fired several shells using rocket launcher at occupying army positions, resulting in casualties and property losses to the enemy, he said.

In another operation, BLA freedom fighters seized weapons and other war equipment of police personnel at Mian Ghundi in Quetta when they were patrolling on motorcycles.

The personnel were released after being warned, the spokesman said.

The previous night, BLA fighters set up a blockade on the Kharan-Noshki and Kharan-Basima main roads and carried out snap-checking for more than two hours, during which two suspects were apprehended and are being interrogated, Jeeyand Baloch said.

In addition, freedom fighters also seized a police vehicle. (NVI)

Border clashes erupt again between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Kabul, Oct 14 (BVI) After a two-day lull, border clashes broke out again tonight between Afghan and Pakistani forces with reports suggesting that at least 9 Pakistani soldiers have been killed so far and some of their posts captured.

The fighting erupted at around 7 pm Afghan time (8 pm IST) after Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked cross-border firing and shelling in Palochi area of Zazi Maidan district of Khost province of Afghanistan.

The Afghan forces retaliated swiftly and forcefully against the Pakistani military, Tolo News said, quoting Mustaghfer Gurbaz  spokesperson for the Khost Governor,l.

According to him, Pakistani forces had initially attempted to launch an attack, but their efforts failed and were met with a swift response from the Afghan sides.

The clashes are still ongoing, with reports saying that at least 9 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the Afghan action.

Some Pakistani military posts have also been captured by the Afghan forces.

The fresh cross-border fighting between the two countries comes after two days of lull.

Earlier on October 12, there were intense clashes, which resulted in the killing of over 200 Pakistani soldiers and injuries to many others, according to the Afghan sources.

Those clashes were a result of Afghanistan’s onslaught in retaliation to Pakistani airstrikes in the neighbouring country on October 9. (NVI)

TTP says it killed 39 Pakistani soldiers, injured 8 in multiple attacks

Cadres of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). (File Pic)

Peshawar, Oct 13 (NVI) Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tonight claimed to have killed 39 Pakistani soldiers and injured at least 8 in multiple operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the last three days.

These  operations took place in South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bajaur, Bannu, Khyber, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Chitral districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement.

The biggest operation took place in Lawara area of South Waziristan district where 25 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 8 injured, he said about the incident of October 11.

He said it was a major attack by the TTP on the “impure” Pakistan army, in which light and heavy weapons were used extensively.

Khorasani said the  TTP fighters seized weapons from the killed soldiers but those armaments were abandoned midway due to “travel difficulties”.

He said  TTP lost two fighters in this attack.

In the same South Waziristan district, a soldier was killed in a sniper operation in Shaga Bangash Khel in Shaktoi in South Waziristan yesterday.

In Bannu district, 5 military personnel were killed in a mine blast in Azad Mandi yesterday, he said.

Two soldiers were killed in a mortar operation on the “impure army” in Dawachina in Zarmilana district.

In Spinwam in North Waziristand, a military officer was killed in a laser gun attack on a patrol post in Datta Khel yesterday, he said.

Two military officers were killed in a sniper attack on a repeater post in the same area yesterday, he added.

In Garyum, TTP fighters this morning attacked a convoy carrying military supplies in Shaktoi Madikhel, as a result of which a military officer was killed on the spot while several others were injured.

An army cargo truck was also destroyed in this attack, he said.

In Bajaur district, TTP fighters last night attacked a police post in Sabagi using laser guns and rocket launchers, etc., in which one officer was killed.

In Upper Dir, the TTP fighters last night encountered the Pakistan Army personnel during a patrol in Gul Bagh, triggering an exchange of fire in which one officer was killed. (NVI)

Sikh, Hindu community leaders meet Muttaqi, request for well-being of minorities in Afghanistan

New Delhi, Oct 13 (NVI) A delegation of prominent Sikh and Hindu leaders today met visiting Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and urged him to ensure well-being of Sikhs along with their Gurudwaras and Temples in that country.

The delegtion was led by President of India World Forum (IWF) Puneet Singh Chandhok, who while welcoming Muttaqi’s India visit, expressed hope that it will help enhance relations between the two countries.

He apprised the minister about history of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan and their current demographics there.

Muttaqi was requested to facilitate and invite a joint delegation of prominent Hindus and Sikhs leaders from India to Afghanistan for the restoration and maintenance of historical gurdwaras and Mandirs located there.

The delegation will be coordinated by Indian World Forum (IWF), he  said

During the previous government in Afghanistan, minorities were given representation in the government, Muttaqi was reminded along with the request  that the Taliban regime also should consider appointing one person each from Hindu and Sikh communities at high-ranking positions.

The Taliban regime should also consider appointing and engaging Afghan national Hindu or Sikhs at an important position in their mission in India too as this will strengthen the bilateral relations too, Chandhok told Muttaqi.

⁠The Afghan government should ensure restoration of property rights and estate of minorities which were grabbed during the previous regime.

⁠The Taliban regime was also requested to issue directive to all provinces in Afghanistan to provide appropriate security and assistance for maintenance of gurdwaras and Mandirs and specially those premises which are in a grazen conditions.

Besides Chandhok, the delegation included Guljeet Singh, President of Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib, Partap Singh, President of Gurudwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev, Mansa Ram Chopra, President of Gurudwara Sri Guru Amar Das, Harbhajan Singh, President of Afghan Hindu Sikh Society and Fateh Singh, Vice President of Khalsa Diwan.  (NVI)

Afghan-Pakistan clashes: Taliban Govt says 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed, 30 injured

Afghan Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid

Kabul, Oct 12 (NVI) Afghanistan today said its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and injured over 30 while capturing 20 border military posts of the neighbouring country in retaliatory operations last night.

The Afghan forces lost 6 men while 16 were injured, the Taliban regime’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said while addressing a press conference here.

Two days after facing Pakistani airstrikes, Afghanistan last night carried out a massive cross-border military action targeting Pakistan’s posts at a number of places along the frontier and destroying several of them.

The Afghan Army stated in a press release that it launched attacks on Pakistani military outposts near the Durand Line (the border not accepted by the Taliban regime) in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, in retaliation for Pakistan’s airstrike on Kabul.

Intense clashes took place in Paktika, Kunar, Khost, Nangarhar and Helmand areas along the Durand Line. Firing and shelling continued for several hours and were stopped in the early hours today.

The Taliban regime said Pakistan Army targeted civilian areas of Afghanistan in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces, forcing hundreds of villagers to flee from their homes.

Zabiullah said the Afghan forces halted the operations following requests from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

However, he warned that if Pakistan provokes again by violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty and airspace, Kabul will respond firmly.

“A decisive and strong response will be given to those who undertake aggression against Afghanistan,” Zabiullah said.

The spokesman informed that Afghanistan government has cancelled a proposed visit of a Pakistani delegation to Kabul as a protest against violation of its airspace by Pakistani military.

Meanwhile, all the border crossing points have been closed in view of tensions between the two neighbours.

The Afghan attack came two days after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Kabul and Paktika provinces, ostensibly to target top leadership of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Afghanistan’s Taliban regime said the Pakistani airstrikes had hit a chicken market, without causing any major harm.

It had vowed to take steps to protect the country’s sovereignty. (NVI)

To avenge airstrikes, Afghan forces target Pakistani border posts; intense clashes on

Kabul, Oct 12 (NVI) Two days after facing Pakistani airstrikes, Afghanistan tonight carried out a massive cross-border military action targeting Pakistan’s posts at a number of places along the frontier and destroying several of them.

The Afghan Army stated in a press release that it has launched attacks on Pakistani military outposts near the Durand Line (the border not accepted by the Taliban regime) in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, in retaliation for Pakistan’s airstrike on Kabul.

As per the latest reports, intense clashes are currently underway in Paktika, Kunar, Khost, Nangarhar and Helmand areas along the Durand Line.

Ariana News of Afghanistan reported that Afghan forces have captured 14 outposts of Pakistan and fighting is on.

Office of the Afghan Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah Azzam, meanwhile, confirmed on his Facebook page the capture of 4 Pakistani military posts — 3 in the Aryub Zazai area of Paktia and the Shakij post in Bahramcha, Helmand.

The captured Pakistani posts have been destroyed by the Afghan forces using landmines, the reports said.

The reports also said that Pakistan Army was using heavy artillery targeting civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces. This has forced hundreds of villagers to flee from their homes.

The Afghan attack came two days after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Kabul and Paktika provinces, ostensibly to target top leadership of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Afghanistan’s Taliban regime said the Pakistani airstrikes had hit a chicken market, without causing any major harm.

It had vowed to take steps to protect the country’s sovereignty. (NVI)

Afghanistan slams Pakistan for airstrikes, issues warning

Leaders of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- File Pic

Kabul, Oct 11 (NVI) Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry has slammed Pakistan for its air strikes in Kabul and Pakitika provinces and said the Taliban regime reserves the right to defend the country’s sovereignty.

It warned that “if the situation becomes more critical following these actions, the consequences will fall on the Pakistani military.”

Pakistan carried out airstrikes ostensibly to target top leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Wali Mehsud but the Taliban regime has maintained that the said person was not in Afghanistan.

In a statement, the Afghan Defence Ministry said, “Once again, Pakistan violated Afghanistan’s airspace, bombing a civilian market in the Murgi area of Paktika near the Durand Line, and also violating the Kabul province’s territory.”

Describing it as “an unprecedented, violent, and despicable act in the history of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the Ministry said, “We strongly condemn this violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and assert that defending our sovereignty is our right.” (NVI)

New chapter in ties between India and Taliban regime; Embassy in Kabul to be restarted

New Delhi, Oct 10 (NVI) Much to the chagrin of Pakistan, India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan today opened a new chapter in their relations, with New Delhi announcing restarting of its Embassy in Kabul after a gap of 4 years along with a slew of initiatives and projects for the welfare of the ”contiguous neighbour”.

The Taliban-regime’s Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in turn, promised to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used against India by any force, while slamming Pakistan for nurturing hostility towards “countries of the region”.

The announcements came at a delegation-level meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting Afghan minister here, which marked the first physical at such a senior level ever since the Taliban seized power militarility in Kabul in August 2021.

The two ministers had spoken over phone twice over the last 6 months, prior to which Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had met Muttaqi in Doha in February.

At the meeting, Jaishankar underlined that India has always been a well-wisher of Afghanistan and its people and recalled that it was the first responder with relief after a massive earthquake hit that country.

Muttaqi, on his part, noted that there have been “ups and downs” during the presence of the US in Afghanistan, despite which the Taliban never said anything against India.

The key takeaways from the meeting are as follows:

India to Upgrade Its Mission in Kabul to Embassy Status:

Jaishankar announced that India will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to the Embassy status, implying establishment of formal diplomatic relations.

The diplomatic scale down took place after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 and India did not have friendly ties with the organisation at that time.

Humanitarian Assistance:

As part of its ongoing healthcare assistance, India will gift 20 ambulances to Afghanistan, 5 of which were delivered today itself by Jaishankar to Muttaqi after their talks.

India will construct a 30-bed hospital in Kabul’s Bagrami district, an Oncology Centre and a Trauma Centre in Kabul, and five Maternity Health Clinics in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia.

India will also undertake several new projects, including the establishment of a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacement of the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul.

About 75 prosthetic limbs have been successfully fitted to Afghan nationals, which was widely appreciated by both the Afghan government and the international community, said a Joint  Statement.

Appreciating India’s assistance in construction and maintenance of India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) in Herat, both sides also underscored the importance of sustainable water management and agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects with a view to addressing Afghanistan’s energy needs and support its agricultural development.

Capacity-Building:

In the field of capacity-building, India continues to offer scholarships to Afghan students under the e-ICCR scholarship scheme. Other avenues for Afghan students to pursue studies at Indian universities under the ICCR and other scholarship programmes are under active consideration.

India expressed its willingness to assist the Afghan government in reconstructing residential buildings in the earthquake affected areas.

Supplies of Food and Other Essentials:

The two sides reviewed the progress of Indian humanitarian assistance programmes to Afghanistan, which include supply of food grains, social support items, school stationery, disaster relief materials and pesticides.

Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to continuing such assistance.

Muttaqi expressed appreciation to the Government of India for its comprehensive and generous humanitarian support, including in providing crucial material aid to address the urgent needs of forcibly repatriated refugees in Afghanistan.

Sports:

Both sides discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in sports, especially cricket, to advance cultural interactions.

Air Freight Corridor:

Both sides welcomed the commencement of the India-Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor, which will further enhance direct trade and commerce between the two countries. The new corridor is expected to streamline connectivity and boost bilateral trade.

Invitation to Indian Companies:

The Afghan side invited Indian companies to invest in the mining sector which would help strengthen the bilateral trade and commercial relations.

Continued Engagement:

Both sides agreed to maintain close communication and continue regular engagement. (NVI)

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