Pakistan

Cross-border shelling: Kabul summons Pakistani ambassador

Afghanistan lodges formal protest over 'Pakistani forces shelling on the Afghan border police'

Tahir Khan July 02, 2015

Pakistan’s new Ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan on Thursday summoned Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul to lodge a formal protest over recent cross-border shelling.

"Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Abrar Hussain, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday and a formal protest was lodged over Pakistani forces shelling on the Afghan border police in Angor Hadda area in district Barmal of Paktika province,” Afghan Foreign Ministry said.

Further, the statement in Dari language sent to The Express Tribune added, “The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Hekmat Khalil Karzai expressed serious concerns over the firing."

Read: Cross-border attack injures 2 Pakistani soldiers in Angoor Adda

“The honourable minister described the Pakistani action as contrary to principles of international law and diplomatic relations to Pakistan and asked the ambassador in Kabul to convey to the government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to prevent such movements of the security forces.”

The Afghan minister also said that “movements of Pakistani forces could be harmful for efforts of the two sides to improve, expand good neighbourly relations and maintain atmosphere of a peaceful coexistence.”

Officials from both sides of the border confirmed the exchange of firing late Tuesday night that caused casualties in both countries.

“A rocket and few rounds of small arms were fired on Angoor Adda (South Waziristan) gate from Afghan side due to which two Pakistani security personnel were injured,” a military official said.

“Pakistani troops responded and targeted positions from where fire was coming,” a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Wednesday.

Read: Hillary's advisers pushed for 'targetted' action against Pakistani military officials

Afghan Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Siddiqi Siddiqi, said that an Afghan border police commander was killed in the shelling. He claimed, “Pakistan forces had been involved in illegal construction on the Afghan side.” A Pakistani military spokesperson, however, denied the charges.

Further, a statement issued by the Afghan Foreign Ministry also expressed “serious concerns” over the shelling.

COMMENTS (4)

Aryan Afghan | 8 years ago | Reply The fact remains Afghans have lived on both sides of the Durand Line for centuries, So, if the British didn't succeed in leaving any footprint there then their former servants will very likely fail to accomplish anything other than to increase cross border resentment. While the U.S. remains in Afghanistan, it's probably not a good idea for Pakistan to further stir the hornet's nest of animosity. Anyway, the incident could've very likely been avoided had the Pakistani government complied with international agreements on the matter.

Curious George | 8 years ago | Reply So bonhomie is over and real game begins.In spite of many visits from both sides,situation is back to square one.Pakistan always wanted a vacuum in Afghanistan all along and that is being created by the withdrawal of American troops.. A despoiled, anarchic vestige of a state to its east means that Pakistan can virtually control the territory, as it did through its various puppets in the 1980s and 1990s.But times have changed and these games may prove very costly.

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