ISLAMABAD: Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan held on Tuesday technical talks on border management and security in Kabul.

The inaugural meeting of the Pak-Afghan Joint Technical Working Group held under a newly-formed high-level consultation mechanism for coordination on border management and related security issues was also attended by Nato officials. Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza led the Pakistani delegation in the talks.

“Afghan, Pakistani and Nato officials met at the defence ministry in Kabul on Tuesday to discuss issues related to border security and joint fight against terrorism on both sides of the Durand Line,” said a brief statement issued by the Afghan defence ministry.

The bilateral mechanism meant for coordination on border management was formed after last month’s violent clashes between Pakistani and Afghan troops over the construction of a border gate that left four soldiers dead on both sides.

The joint technical working group was formed to support the consultative mechanism that includes foreign ministers and national security advisers of both countries.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2016