Pakistan

Pak Army will respond to 'foolish' offensives with 'full might': Lt Gen Aamir Riaz

Military official says Pakistan Army was forced to retaliate and destroyed four or five Afghan check-posts

News Desk May 07, 2017

lieutenant general aamir riaz says the afghan government should be ashamed of its quot foolish quot actions photo radio pak

Lieutenant General Aamir Riaz says the Afghan government should be ashamed of its "foolish" actions. PHOTO: Radio Pak

In the wake of the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan border clash, Commander Southern Command Lt General Aamir Riaz said on Sunday that the Pakistan Army would respond to such "foolish" offensives from the other side with its "full might".

"We were forced to retaliate and had to destroy four or five Afghan check-posts after they [the Afghan forces] tried to enter our territory," the military official told reporters.

On Friday, at least 10 people, including women, children and a Frontier Corps (FC) man, were killed and 47 others injured after Afghan border forces resorted to ‘unprovoked’ firing at Pakistani troops guarding a census team.

50 Afghan soldiers killed, 100 injured in retaliatory fire: IG FC

In response, Inspector General FC Major General Nadeem Ahmed told the media on Sunday, Pakistani forces had targeted Afghan security check-posts, killing 50 people and injuring 100.

"Such attacks won't benefit Afghanistan in any way and its government should be ashamed of these imprudent actions," Radio Pakistan quoted Lt. Gen. Riaz as saying.

"The Afghan government has adopted a negative approach towards Pakistan and that's why its forces are carrying out attacks inside our territory in a bid to challenge our sovereignty," he added.

The incident occurred in the Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir villages of Chaman, which straddle the border and have been a source of controversy between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kabul claims the villages are part of the war-torn country’s Spin Boldak district, an assertion Pakistan flatly denies.

Tense calm prevails at Chaman border after deadly standoff

Both sides rushed reinforcements to the border and Pakistani authorities closed the Chaman crossing indefinitely once again. Pakistan had closed the border with Afghanistan for a month after a series of terrorist attacks across the country left around 100 people dead.

Replying to a question about the reopening of the border, Lt Gen. Riaz said it would remain closed until the situation became normal.

"Our government is trying to ease tensions after the outrageous attack," he added.

COMMENTS (3)

Atif | 7 years ago | Reply Afghans defeated Russia. Afghans defeated US and NATO. Pakistan defeated Afghanistan. Real Superpower - PAKISTAN !!

Naeem Khan | 7 years ago | Reply This is a country which is being occupied by foreign forces for the last 30 years, first by the Russians and now by Western powers. I won't go into what has this occupation done to their social fabric and psyche. They are financed and abetted by Pakistan’s enemies to encroach on Pakistan's territory and this retaliation by Pakistan defense forces was the right step and should be maintained by all cost. I wonder if their master in Washington DC and New Delhi are encouraging these yahoos in Kabul to do mischief in the border areas. Make it clear to Afghans that if their masters are building Walls between their country and Mexico, then Pakistan, a sovereign country has every right to build whatever barriers to stop cross border terrorist encouraged and financed by India or any other country. Pakistani Army is paid to defend the borders and they should do whatever it takes to safe guard the integrity of it's sovereign territory. Pakistan is not being occupied by any foreign forces and it should be clear to all the neighbors. Afghans should be concentrating to throw out the invaders and occupier instead of fomenting problems in Pakistani territory on behest of Pakistan's enemies, namely to the east of Pakistan. Funny the world is noticing the atrocities being committed by Indian Army in occupied Kashmir so they are encouraging their client to create mischief in Pakistan. I say take drastic action that Afghan government will keep in mind not to repeat the mistakes for their own sake.

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