Afghanistan has strongly criticized Pakistan’s unilateral decision on merging the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, saying the move was in contravention of the 1921 treaty signed between Afghanistan and the then British India.  

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s former president Hamid Karzai has said that the merge of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will not impact the Durand Line. 

“While we are very happy to see the removal of the oppressive FCR and the mainstreaming of FATA, I remind the government of Pakistan of the verdict of the Afghan people regarding the nonrecognition of Durand Line,” Karzai tweeted. 

“The Afghan government by realizing the colonial and inhuman oppressive system in the tribal regions believes that the unilateral decision aimed at stripping the autonomy of tribal regions is not the solution while we have not the consensus of the people and the suggestion of the Afghan government regarding the issue,” said deputy presidential spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal. 

But, Afghan government officials have declared Pakistan’s move on the merger of FATA as unacceptable and inappropriate. 

According to officials in Kabul, Afghanistan has shared its concerns regarding the matter through diplomatic channels with the Pakistani side and the international community. 

“I think the Afghan government has the right to act based on the commitments we have in the past and the agreements between the two countries particularly between the Afghan government and the British India,” said first deputy speaker of the senate Mohammad Alam Ezedyar. 

“We call on the international community to concentrate on the issue, because it is another clear violation by Pakistan,” senator Ghulam Muhayyudin Munsef said.

Pakistan’s Parliament on Thursday passed a constitutional amendment bill clearing the way for the merger of the FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 

The 229 members assembly voted in favor of the constitution amendment while one voted against it. However, the bill was opposed by some hardliners including Jamiat-e-ulema-Islam (JUI-F) and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party. 

Pakistani cabinet last week approved an amendment to the Constitution for the merger. 

But Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs has described Afghanistan’s criticisms as an interference in its internal issues.