Border skirmish: Islamabad expresses concern over Kabul’s ‘unwarranted’ statement
Six Pakistani soldiers, five civilians were injured in an exchange of fire between Pakistan and Afghan border guards
PHOTO: Reuters
Pakistan on Thursday expressed serious concern over the ‘unwarranted’ statements made by Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry over the recent border skirmish with the western neighbor.
“The ministry would like to put the record straight that on 27 and 28 October 2019, Afghan military resorted to unprovoked mortar and heavy weapon firing on Pakistan military’s newly-established posts, which resulted into serious injuries to six Pakistan military soldiers,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
It further added that despite the aggressive action by the Afghan military, the Pakistani side exercised utmost restraint to avoid further escalation.
Six Pakistani soldiers and five civilians, including a woman, were injured in an exchange of fire between Pakistan and Afghan border guards in Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa earlier this week.
Pakistan refutes Afghanistan’s claim about recent firing incident
“As a positive gesture, Pakistan military proposed to resolve the issue of newly-established posts through Border Flag Meeting, a joint survey of the area, and a local Jirga involving elders/Mashran from both the sides,” the FO said.
A note verbale on the matter was handed over to the Afghan Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad on October 28 but a response on it is still awaited.
FO said that it was highly regrettable that despite mutual agreement on utilizing recognized channels of communication, Afghanistan chose to raise the issue through a media statement.
“We expect that the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs will respond to Pakistan’s proposals,” it added.
The Foreign Office further said that Pakistan considers the Pak-Afghan border as an internationally recognized official border between the two countries in accordance with all relevant international laws and conventions.
“The ministry would like to put the record straight that on 27 and 28 October 2019, Afghan military resorted to unprovoked mortar and heavy weapon firing on Pakistan military’s newly-established posts, which resulted into serious injuries to six Pakistan military soldiers,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
It further added that despite the aggressive action by the Afghan military, the Pakistani side exercised utmost restraint to avoid further escalation.
Six Pakistani soldiers and five civilians, including a woman, were injured in an exchange of fire between Pakistan and Afghan border guards in Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa earlier this week.
Pakistan refutes Afghanistan’s claim about recent firing incident
“As a positive gesture, Pakistan military proposed to resolve the issue of newly-established posts through Border Flag Meeting, a joint survey of the area, and a local Jirga involving elders/Mashran from both the sides,” the FO said.
A note verbale on the matter was handed over to the Afghan Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad on October 28 but a response on it is still awaited.
FO said that it was highly regrettable that despite mutual agreement on utilizing recognized channels of communication, Afghanistan chose to raise the issue through a media statement.
“We expect that the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs will respond to Pakistan’s proposals,” it added.
The Foreign Office further said that Pakistan considers the Pak-Afghan border as an internationally recognized official border between the two countries in accordance with all relevant international laws and conventions.