Officials accused Afghan soldiers on Monday of crossing into Pakistani territory and sparking clashes that killed two tribesmen and injured one other.
AFP quoted a senior official as saying that up to 60 Afghan soldiers entered Pakistani territory in what is the latest in a series of attacks inflaming tensions along the porous border.
Tribesmen Lahore Khan and Khwaja Din were shot dead while Gul Wazir was injured when Afghan troops opened fire on the men who were busy chopping down trees in the Inzarki area of Upper Kurram Agency, another official told The Express Tribune. He added that local tribesmen returned fire, forcing the troops to flee.
The firefight lasted for over 90 minutes after which Pakistani security forces were sent to the area, the senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Local residents said the Afghans were pursuing attackers fleeing Shehar-e-Nau village in Afghanistan’s Paktia province. Afghan defence officials, however, denied the alleged incursion.
“We are not aware of such an operation by the Afghan National Army (ANA) in that area,” Daulat Wazir, the spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry said.
Colonel Ahmad Jan, the spokesman for ANA’s corps 203 in southeastern Afghanistan said: “It is not true; our forces have not entered Pakistan. We have not had any operations near the border recently.”
The attacks have raised fresh concerns that Pakistani Taliban, who fled a 2009 army offensive, have regrouped and again pose a threat.
Meanwhile, officials said dozens of militants based in Afghanistan on Sunday attacked a check-post in Upper Dir for the second time in eight days.
Six militants were killed after crossing into Sabir Killey village in the Soni Darr area of Upper Dir, one official told AFP. “The firefight continued late into the night.”
Another official said there were reports that ‘hundreds of militants’ were gathering in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar.
“Authorities have alerted local Lashkars (tribal militia) amid fears of a bigger clash,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity.
(AFP with additional input from our correspondent in Parachinar)
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (9)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
The act done is a part of conspiracy hatched by concerned quarter against Pakistan,must avoid such acts.
What you Sow, so shall you Reap !!
Pakistan should give tough and befitting response to Afghanistan. Basically it is US backing in their anti Pakistan stance which is prompting Afghanistan to behave as an arrogant neighbour.
Pay back time by Afghanistan.
The afghan army must get a lesson if they again cross the border.
Rogue Afghan soldiers and police who routinely turn their guns on NATO/ISAF troops can be trusted about as much as their Northern Alliance warlords. They will become a major threat to Pakistan in the coming years.
@Amjad: and how are you planning on to seal the vast border also know as the most dangerous border in the world? any plans? other then fencing which may cost the pakistani nation 5 percent of their GDP to build and keep it controlled. get it Amjad saheb pakistan has been playing with flame for a long time now and this nation will be caught on fire anytime now.
@Amjad: Trying to sneak in wall / fence along the Afghanistan / Pakistan border will not work. Afghanistan is not recognizing the Durand line and they contend that the border line should be much eastwards of the present Durand line.
If the Afghani forces deny entering Pakistani land, then they should not complain when they are captured and served justice. Pakistan should seal the border with Afghanistan to prevent incursions from criminals. It's important for ISAF to help fund a big wall / fence to prevent movement across this border.