Forty-six Afghan soldiers sought refuge in Pakistan after losing control of military positions across the border following advances by Taliban insurgents, Pakistan’s army said on Monday.
Hundreds of Afghan army soldiers and civil officials have fled to neighboring Tajikistan, Iran and Pakistan in recent weeks after Taliban offensives in border areas.
The Afghan military commander requested refuge at the border crossing in Chitral in the north, the Pakistan army said in a statement, adding the soldiers were given safe passage into Pakistan on Sunday night after clearance from Afghan authorities.
“Afghan soldiers have been provided food, shelter and necessary medical care as per established military norms,” the statement said.
The move comes at a time of poor relations between the neighbors. Afghanistan recalled its diplomats from Pakistan after the brief kidnapping of the Afghan ambassador’s daughter in Islamabad earlier in the month.
Afghan officials did not respond to a request for comment.
The Taliban has escalated its offensive since the United States announced in April that it would withdraw its troops by September, ending a 20-year foreign military presence.
Washington has said it will continue to carry out air strikes to support Afghan forces facing insurgent attacks.
Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have met in Qatar’s capital, Doha, in recent weeks, although diplomats say there have been few signs of substantive progress since peace talks began in September.
Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan’s military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around critical areas such as Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure, Afghan and US officials have said.
The Pakistan army said the soldiers who sought refuge will be returned to Afghanistan after due process, as had taken place in the case of another batch of 35 soldiers earlier in July.
46 Afghan soldiers seek refuge in Pakistan after losing border military posts
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46 Afghan soldiers seek refuge in Pakistan after losing border military posts
- Hundreds of Afghan soldiers and civil officials have fled to neighbouring Tajikistan, Iran and Pakistan in recent weeks
- Taliban has escalated offensive since US announced it would withdraw troops by September, ending 20-year military presence
Pakistan’s OGDCL plans output boost as LNG supply risks rise
- OGDCL plans to raise gas output 5 percent and boost crude oil production 14 percent amid supply concerns
- Pakistan considers cutting LNG regasification as Qatari cargo disruptions raise supply risks
KARACHI: Pakistan’s state natural gas producer OGDCL is preparing to raise output for the first time in recent years as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East choked supply, its managing director said.
High electricity tariffs and rapid rooftop solar adoption have reduced demand for natural gas in recent years, forcing Pakistan to renegotiate long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contracts with Qatar and domestic producers to cut output.
On Monday, Qatar halted LNG production after Iran targeted the country following the US-Israeli strikes over the weekend. Here are the new developments:
* OGDCL aims to raise natural gas output by 5 percent to 865 million cubic feet per day.
* The company also plans to boost crude oil production by 14 percent to 40,000 barrels per day, as the conflict has disrupted shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
* OGDCL’s Managing Director, Ahmed Lak, emphasized potential further increases with new discoveries. “This potential can be fully monetised subject to offtake by the buyers,” Lak said.
* Pakistan is exploring the option of reducing LNG terminal regasification due to undelivered Qatari cargoes, industry sources said.
* The move could relieve pressure on Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, sources added.
