Ayush
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By CHARLES LEVINSON
At an anti-Pakistan rally in Kabul on Friday, Afghan protestors had to resort to various tactics before the flag they were trying to burn ignited to their satisfaction. WSJ's Charles Levinson reports via #WorldStream.
KABULThousands of marchers shouted "Death to Pakistan" and burned Pakistani flags in the Afghan capital Friday, a day after the worst border clash in more than a decade left one person dead and five injured.
Demonstrators hoisted Afghan soldiers on their shoulders and urged that territory be taken back from Pakistan, with some calling for war.
The clash began late Wednesday when Afghan security forceswhich are trained, funded and advised by the U.S.apparently tried to seize control of one of several newly erected Pakistani military posts along the disputed border. Pakistan fired artillery shells at Afghan forces, who responded with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.
By the time it ended Thursday morning, one Afghan Border Police officer had been killed and three wounded. Pakistan said two of its soldiers had been wounded.
Afghan officials say the posts are in Afghan territory, a claim supported by U.S. military maps but rejected by Pakistan.
Afghanistan doesn't recognize the so-called Durand Line, the British-drawn boundary between the two countries that cuts through ethnic Pashtun lands, as an international frontier with Pakistan.
Tensions between the neighboring countries have steadily mounted in recent months as the U.S. winds down its military presence in Afghanistan and the Afghan and Pakistan militaries grow more assertive.
Many Afghans resent Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan, especially decades of Pakistani intelligence support for the Taliban.
"We are protesting against Pakistan, against its interference in Afghanistan, militarily, politically, its support for the Taliban, and 30 years of proxy war in Afghanistan by Pakistan," said Zaland Faiz, head of a youth movement in Kabul.
He held a sign that declared: "Pakistan is a terrorism sponsoring state."
"They tried to invade our country," said Israr Ahmed Khan, a local politician leading protest chants. "These are historically Afghan lands."
The uneasy border remained calm on Friday.
Both sides blamed the other for provoking the clash, which appeared to begin after Afghan forces seized control of a Pakistan border post.
Afghan officials said the Pakistani soldiers were violating an agreement by building additional fortification onto the outpost. Pakistani officials said they were merely conducting routine repairs.
U.S. military officials said they were working to calm tensions. Any disruption to the flow of goods across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border could hamper U.S. efforts to withdraw its remaining 66,000 troops and their equipment from the country in coming months.
Habib Khan Totakhil contributed to this article.
Write to Charles Levinson at charles.levinson@wsj.com
Afghans Protest After Clash on Pakistani Border - WSJ.com
the thing that interests me is that why is usa doing anything??even though they agree that the gates are in afghan territory??
@Sher Malang @Armstrong @Secur @Abu Zolfiqar @Pak-one
At an anti-Pakistan rally in Kabul on Friday, Afghan protestors had to resort to various tactics before the flag they were trying to burn ignited to their satisfaction. WSJ's Charles Levinson reports via #WorldStream.
KABULThousands of marchers shouted "Death to Pakistan" and burned Pakistani flags in the Afghan capital Friday, a day after the worst border clash in more than a decade left one person dead and five injured.
Demonstrators hoisted Afghan soldiers on their shoulders and urged that territory be taken back from Pakistan, with some calling for war.
The clash began late Wednesday when Afghan security forceswhich are trained, funded and advised by the U.S.apparently tried to seize control of one of several newly erected Pakistani military posts along the disputed border. Pakistan fired artillery shells at Afghan forces, who responded with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.
By the time it ended Thursday morning, one Afghan Border Police officer had been killed and three wounded. Pakistan said two of its soldiers had been wounded.
Afghan officials say the posts are in Afghan territory, a claim supported by U.S. military maps but rejected by Pakistan.
Afghanistan doesn't recognize the so-called Durand Line, the British-drawn boundary between the two countries that cuts through ethnic Pashtun lands, as an international frontier with Pakistan.
Tensions between the neighboring countries have steadily mounted in recent months as the U.S. winds down its military presence in Afghanistan and the Afghan and Pakistan militaries grow more assertive.
Many Afghans resent Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan, especially decades of Pakistani intelligence support for the Taliban.
"We are protesting against Pakistan, against its interference in Afghanistan, militarily, politically, its support for the Taliban, and 30 years of proxy war in Afghanistan by Pakistan," said Zaland Faiz, head of a youth movement in Kabul.
He held a sign that declared: "Pakistan is a terrorism sponsoring state."
"They tried to invade our country," said Israr Ahmed Khan, a local politician leading protest chants. "These are historically Afghan lands."
The uneasy border remained calm on Friday.
Both sides blamed the other for provoking the clash, which appeared to begin after Afghan forces seized control of a Pakistan border post.
Afghan officials said the Pakistani soldiers were violating an agreement by building additional fortification onto the outpost. Pakistani officials said they were merely conducting routine repairs.
U.S. military officials said they were working to calm tensions. Any disruption to the flow of goods across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border could hamper U.S. efforts to withdraw its remaining 66,000 troops and their equipment from the country in coming months.
Habib Khan Totakhil contributed to this article.
Write to Charles Levinson at charles.levinson@wsj.com
Afghans Protest After Clash on Pakistani Border - WSJ.com
the thing that interests me is that why is usa doing anything??even though they agree that the gates are in afghan territory??
@Sher Malang @Armstrong @Secur @Abu Zolfiqar @Pak-one
Last edited by a moderator:
lol
. Looks like Afghanistan is reiterating its stance on Durand line.
