Pakistan accused of seizing Afghan territory

JALALABAD (PAN in the eastern province of Nangarhar over the past 10 years, an official claimed on Saturday.

Director of Tribal and Border Affairs Baryalai Gardiwal said that after the collapse of the Taliban regime, Pakistani forces captured Afghan territory in Kama, Goshta and Lalpura districts.

A 41 square kilometres area was wrested by the neighbouring country in Kunar province, he told tribal elders from, Door Baba, Nazyan, Lalpura, Goshta, Momand Dara, Kooz Kunar (Khewa) and Dara-i-Noor districts.  

The Pakistani government wanted to issue identity cards to the people of the areas but the process was prevented in some of the areas, Gardiwal said, without elaborating.

He accused Pakistan Rivers, he alleged.

A tribal elder from Goshta, Nadir Khan Khogakhel, said Khapakh Knadaw area of the district had been under the Afghan government’s control 10 years ago. But now it has been seized by Pakistan, according to him.

But another tribal elder, Malik Abbas, assailed elders from border districts of receiving favours, including cash, from both countries. As Kabul ignored the areas, Pakistan was providing them gas and power, he said.

Deputy Governor Mohammad Hanif Gardiwal expressed unawareness about the seizure of Afghanistan’s territory by Pakistan.

myn/mud