Islamabad: The military took a step up operations along the Afghan border in last weeks after a wave of militant attacks that have dashed any hope the border could see more pace and stability after the end of war in Afghanistan.
The militant factions have martyred at least 14 soldiers in attacks over the past month, three of they wore them out by fighters entering from Afghanistan, the military She said.
of Afghanistan new Taliban rulers, struggling with a humanitarian crisis, they denied that Afghan territory was being used in any of the attacks.
But despite such assurances, the disputes related to the border, which has been a bone of quarrel between neighbors for decades, they could undermine their relationships.
The military She said six the insurgents were killed in the latest clash in Resource-rich Baluchistan on Wednesday.
“Operations to eliminate these culprits of terrorist acts in Pakistan will continue, “he said in a declaration.
Maximum security official with direct knowledge of border operations told Reuters: “We took a step up intelligence-based operations a ensure that we deny entry to the militants “.
Large areas on of Pakistan side of the border was out of control of the government for decades, ruled by fiercely independent Pashtun tribes, whose communities often straddle both sides of the unmarked border.
But Pakistan is determined to put an end to this, with the aim of bringing the rugged Pashtun lands under the center rule and to delimit the border with a fence and control who comes and goes with a tight border control by another Pakistani official She said.
“We are targeting anyonesian them separatists or militants, who is a threat, “said the second official, who also declined to identify.
‘FRIENDS’
Pakistan maintained cordial relations with the Afghan Taliban for years even though Pakistan was officially an ally of the United States during its 20-year occupation of Afghanistan.
But while Pakistan is struggling with violence by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and groups active in Balochistan, his appeals to the Taliban to control them side of the border did not bring the action he hopes to see.
Increasingly frustrated, officials pushed the Taliban to deny space and resources to militants, appeal repeated by National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf during his visit to Kabul last month.
by Yusuf office did not respond to a request for comment.
In Kabul, the Taliban reject suggestions that Afghan territory be used for attacks in Pakistan and hope that the talks will do so solve the problem.
“We are trying solve such actions through diplomatic channels, “Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khowarazmi told Reuters.
The Taliban tried late last year facilitate talks between Pakistan and an alliance of militants linked to al-Qaeda known as TTP. But the talks have gone in pieces after a few weeks.
Despite the frustrations, the officials rule out the chance of any serious deterioration in relations with the Afghan Taliban.
“We are friends in grass” one of officials said.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) did not respond to a request for comment about the scope of its operations and what the military would do if the attacks from Afghan soil continued.
Another source of friction is Pakistan’s determination finish fencing off the 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) border that it was drawn by British colonial rulers with no consideration for the Pashtun tribes split up. It has never been recognized by any Afghan government.
Taliban fighters have a times prevented the forces from putting up the fence, just as forces of the old US-backed Afghan government used to do.
Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob says his government he had not given anyone allowed to fence the border.
“We didn’t get any decision on the fence, “he told Afghan state-owned RTA TV last week.
