Azizullah Omar, the police chief of Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, has refuted recent reports suggesting the presence of Pakistani military forces in the Wakhan district of the province. According to TOLOnews, Omar stated that Afghan defense and security forces are stationed in the region, and there has been no movement by Pakistani troops.
“The reports published in the media are not true. We are in constant communication with our security forces. There is no problem, and no one has the capability to enter Wakhan. Our defense and security forces are fully prepared to counter any attack,” Omar said.
The clarification follows claims by some Pakistani media outlets alleging that Pakistan’s military had entered the Wakhan Corridor and taken control of parts of the area. Omar emphasized that Afghan security forces remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding Afghanistan’s borders.
Residents of Badakhshan province have also expressed concerns, urging the government to ensure territorial integrity. Abdul Saboor, a resident, stated,
“Pakistan can never invade Wakhan. Previous governments were involved in deals, but the Islamic Emirate will not allow it.” Another resident, Zalmai, added, “Our demand from the Islamic Emirate is to strengthen and protect the borders.”
The region was delineated in 1893 through an agreement between British official Mortimer Durand and Afghanistan’s Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, creating the Durand Line. The corridor acted as a buffer zone between the Russian and British empires, separating Russian Turkestan (now Tajikistan) and the northern territories of the British Raj (now Pakistan).
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