QUETTA: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has strongly denounced the yesterday’s firing incident at Bab-e-Dosti near the Pakistan-Afghanistan Chaman border, labeling it unacceptable.
Bugti, along with federal ministers from Energy and Information, during a press conference expressed concern over the incident where a senior Pakistani citizen and a child lost their lives, and two others sustained injuries due to firing from across the border. Bugti urged the Afghan government to take serious action against the culprits, emphasizing the negative impact such incidents have on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. He also called for the extradition of the perpetrators to Pakistani authorities. The minister highlighted the restraint shown by Pakistani forces in the face of unprovoked firing to safeguard citizens.
Bugti commended the country’s law enforcement agencies for a successful intelligence-based operation that resulted in the elimination of ten terrorists. Praising the capabilities of Pakistani forces in dealing with terrorists, the minister underscored their commitment to tackling such threats effectively.
ISPR Reaction to the Chaman Border Incident
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that at least two people, including a child, were killed when an Afghan sentry opened “unprovoked and indiscriminate” firing on pedestrians at the Chaman border crossing (Bab-e-Dosti) on Wednesday. According to ISPR, security forces at border exercised extreme restraint and avoided any exchange of fire in the presence of innocent passengers to avoid collateral damage.
GCC-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement
Caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz announced the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Pakistan, marking a significant boost for Pakistan’s exports to GCC countries. Ejaz credited Saudi Arabia for its role in concluding the agreement, the first in 14 years. He also mentioned the ongoing development of a mechanism to certify the skills of Pakistani workers in Gulf countries based on market demands. Ejaz highlighted the decision to provide gas to the export industry during winter to enhance Pakistan’s exports. While expressing the commitment to facilitate genuine trade with Afghanistan, he emphasized that items prone to smuggling have been placed on a negative list. The minister clarified that Pakistan aims for Afghan trade to serve internal consumption and not contribute to smuggling into Pakistan.
Energy Minister Muhammad Ali shared that the government has finalized two LNG cargoes for December, ensuring no deficiency of gas in the coming days. Additionally, he mentioned plans for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines in the coming months.
