Not governments but people will decide on Durand Line

Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry (MOFA) says the decision on the Durand Line has to be made by the people living on both sides of the disputed border, and any type of "unilateral" action in regard without Afghan consent is going to be "ineffective, impractical and impossible."

Afghan Voice Agency(AVA),  Addressing a news conference in Kabul, Shekib Mustaghni, the MoFA spokesman said: “No governments have the right to decide on Durand Line, the issue belongs to people.”

Mustaghni stressed that the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan could not effort to take any decision on controversial Durand Line issue without security and stability in the region.

The Durand Line remains a contentious issue in Pak-Afghan relations, since its establishment in 1893.

Earlier about two weeks ago, the UK quietly hosted a meeting of top Afghan and Pakistani officials where they discussed ways to ease tensions between two countries.

Following the meeting there were rumors that the officials might have addressed the Durand Line issue as well, however, the MOFA spokesman said that there was no discussion on defacto borderline at the meeting.

In other parts of his speech, Mustaghni described Pakistan’s building fence plan along the disputed Afghan border a “unilateral and illogical move.”

“Afghanistan has lodged UN complaint against Pakistan over border violations, UN will possibly pass resolution against Pakistan,” he said.