QUETTA:
In the brash combative style of US-led Nato forces, Afghan security forces carried out a raid – their first cross-border incursion – in a border district of Balochistan, officials said on Saturday.
“Driving in two vehicles, Afghan security personnel intruded over a mile into Pakistani territory in Qilla Saifullah district and kidnapped two Pakistani nationals before shooting them,” a senior official of the Balochistan government told The Express Tribune.
According to residents, Afghan security personnel raided the house of a tribal chieftain, Sadullah Kakar, in the Badini area, suspecting him of harbouring Taliban insurgents. They seized two men – identified as Abdullah and Muhammad Sarwar Shabozai – and whisked them away into Afghanistan. Later they shot them dead and refused to return the bodies to their relatives.
Relatives put the number of victims at three, identifying the third as Din Muhammad. However, officials could confirm only two deaths.
The Balochistan government took serious notice of this blatant violation of the Pakistani border by Afghan security forces. “We have summoned the Quetta-based Afghan consul general through the foreign ministry to protest the incident,” Home Secretary Nasebullah Bazai told The Express Tribune.
He said the provincial authorities would seek an explanation from the Afghan diplomat for the incursion into Pakistani territory by Afghan security forces. “We will also ask them to hand over the bodies and provide details of the incident,” he added.
In November 2011, Nato helicopter gunships bombed Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency, killing two dozen border guards and sparking fissures in Pakistan-US relations.
Afghan officials routinely blame Pakistan for its clandestine support of Taliban militants who have been fighting a deadly insurgency in Afghanistan. These accusations grew shriller in September 2011 when fingers were pointed at the Quetta Shura – the top Taliban leadership council – for plotting and executing the assassination of top Afghan peace negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani. Islamabad denies the existence of Quetta Shura.
The frosty relations between the two countries started thawing following a US move to bypass Pakistan and Afghanistan and engage the Taliban in direct talks in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar. However, the incursion will cast a shadow over the ties between the two countries.
Interestingly, the incident happened the same day the Afghan army chief ruled out cross-border “hot pursuits” of “terrorists hiding out in their havens in Pakistan.”
In an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan National Army Chief of General Staff Gen Sher Mohammad Karimi said that it would be illegal and against international norms to cross the border into the neighbouring country while chasing insurgents. Instead, he urged Islamabad to ensure that there were no sanctuaries for militants on its territory.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
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hey guys calm down we share a vast border with Pakistan incidents happen thats what FC would reply or have replied when afghans were killed not civillians but military personnel. they were simply trying to get the cancer out of its roots the same cancer which is spreading across Afghan-Pak border. to make it safe you need to get rid of some nasty people who are training and sending these little kids from pakistan to do suicide attacks on afghans even on pakistanis.
@Shadab, As you said, "How the afghan soldiers entered in our territory and kill our citizens ? "
The same way that both the Pakistan Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, and foreign mercenaries, enter Afghanistan to kill its citizens. The border is porous and not well guarded.
As Saldat Amir posted, "Stop giving shelter to taliban terrorists or be prepared for more such raids."
Why should the Taliban of either country be given a free pass for crossing the border if the Military on the other side of the border give them protection?
Since the Taliban are a destabilizing force in both countries, it would be in the best interest of both countries to minimize or eliminate both Taliban groups.
I suppose they could have used artillery shells like Pakistan does - this seems pretty tame and concise by those standards. Further - no "civilians" were killed just bad guys who happened to be staying in the house of the village elder who should be placed under arrest.
We keep speaking of "Gharait". When we start having some internal respect within our own country, with our law and order situation and the type of people we elect to represent us, then perhaps others outside will start having respect for the country.
our security personnel are not doing their job ! How the afghan soldiers entered in our territory and kill our citizens ?
Danish ,pls leave India out of this.No political party will ever get support for such an act and the army will never act without government nod
This is a blow to our ghairat.... we will block some supply line again
next will be India and may be then China.
First US, then NATO then Iranian's, Now Afghans totally unacceptable
Pakistan is a rare country, every Tom, Dick and Harry can come kill as many Pakistanis as he wants and leave and no one gives a damn about it. Pakistan government is the most useless government in the world.
I asked my captain what to right them in responce to this artical, he said to write "you ain't see nothing yet."
I think this is a serious matter.In no case Afgans should cross Pakistan boundary. But these things will continue in future also bcoz pakistan has failed to stop the talibanization of it's society.
After 2014 there might be big proxy war inside pakistan... played by many countries like USA/CIA drones, Saudi's private money, China's geostragic need, India's moral support to balooch, Afgan's frustration with taliban, Iran and pakistani establishment...
Now time has come for revolution in pakistan... people should start differentiating between black and white... black is black whether it is taliban, Dife-pakistan, pakistani-taliban, kashmiri insurgents etc.... No support to violence....
Time for Gandhi's "Non-Violence" based secular society... whole world would appreciate it... :)...
Otherwise keep doing jihad with the whole world...
Why should army protect the ungrateful whiners of Pakistan? In fact army should be disbanded and the our liberal bloggers and twitter warriors should fight all wars for Pakistan.
these people are betrayers.we should kick all of them from our country.look at this act.,our security forces should take a strict notice of such incidents and teach the perpetrators a true lesson.
Stop giving shelter to taliban terrorists or be prepared for more such raids.
Pakistan forces should stop Afghans forces from further intruding in our borders.
Pakistan accommodated millions of Afghan refugees during the Soviet-Afghan war and in return of favour, Afghan forces are intruding our borders.
This should be stopped for once and for all.
As far as I'm concerned, I see Afghans as a hostile neighbor. They're complicit with bearded mullahs to destabilize Pakistan.
Capt. Basit, Pak Army.Where was FC? our our Border's security forces??? Why are they eating up piles of budget if they can't save us from these Frogs?? A Shameful incident for our 'Ghairatmand' Security forces.
First US, then Iran and now even Afghanistan? This bodes very badly for our Ghairat.