ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has allowed refuge and safe passage to 46 soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Border Police.
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, a local ANA commander opposite Arundu, Chitral, had requested help for the 46 soldiers — including five officers — as they were unable to hold their military posts along the Pak-Afghan International Border due to the evolving security situation in Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Army contacted Afghan authorities for the relevant information and necessary formalities, the statement added.
“These Afghan soldiers arrived at Arundu sector, Chitral late last night. After contact with Afghan authorities and necessary military procedures, 46 soldiers including five officers have been given refuge and safe passage into Pakistan.
“Afghan soldiers have been provided food, shelter and necessary medical care as per established military norms,” the ISPR statement said.
It added that the soldiers and officers would be returned to the Afghan government in a “dignified manner after due process”.
The ISPR further stated that 35 Afghan soldiers who had asked for refuge on July 1 had also been given safe passage into Pakistan and handed over to Afghan govt authorities after due procedure.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had previously told media that Pakistan has moved the Frontier Constabulary, Levies Force, and other militias from the front line positions along the Pak-Afghan border as the army has started to man those positions.
Minister said the regular army troops were manning the border after replacing the paramilitary forces. The current volatile situation in Afghanistan demands that regular military troops be deployed along the border, Sheikh Rashid said.
Insecurity has been growing in Afghanistan in recent weeks as US-led foreign troops complete their withdrawal and the Taliban launch major offensives, taking districts and border crossings.
