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| January 16, 2007 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 25, 1427 |
‘Afghans not to be stopped from crossing border’
QUETTA, Jan 15: Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided not to stop the movement of Afghans across their border despite the installation of the biometric computerised control system.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the border officials of the two countries in Spin Buldak, a border district of Afghanistan, on Monday.
Headed by District Nazim Qila Abdullah Haji Adam Khan Achakzai, the Pakistani delegation visited Spin Buldak along with tribal elders Naseer Ahmed Bacha, Haji Habib Jan and Haji Khuda-i-Mir Khan.
The commander of Afghan border security, Abdul Raziq Panjsheri, headed the Afghan delegation in the talks that continued for more then four hours.
Sources told Dawn that the meeting decided that Afghan border authorities would allow Pakistanis to cross into Afghanistan on computerised passes issued to them under the new system introduced by Pakistan. It was also decided that Pakistan border officials would not stop Afghans from entering Pakistan on old border permits issued by Afghan border authorities.
The sources said meeting also decided that all border issues would be resolved through negotiation between the official and tribal elders of the two countries.
“No third party would be allowed to interfere in our affairs,” the meeting decided.
Sources quoted Mr Panjsheri as telling the Pakistani delegation that they would not raise any objection to the biometric system introduced by Pakistan.
“We don’t want Afghans, who cross into Chaman every day as part of their business activities, to suffer from the new system,” he said. The meeting also decided that officials and tribal elders of both sides would meet twice a month.
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