Three Pakistani citizens were martyred, while seven civilians and two soldiers sustained injuries in cross-border firing from inside Afghanistan in the Bajaur tribal district on Friday.
The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, according to the locals. They said that terrorists based in Afghanistan used to target the Pakistani citizens and security forces from time to time in which several people and personnel had been martyred and injured.
Friday’s incident followed a mortar fire from Kunar province of Afghanistan on July 15, which destroyed a house in Kaga village in Mamond Tehsil of Bajaur, injuring a woman. In retaliation Pakistani security forces targeted the suspected terrorist sanctuaries in Kunar, a media report said.
On late Wednesday, Afghanistan protested against the Pakistani firing at the terrorist target in the border areas of Kunar, claiming that it caused civilian casualties and damage to houses. The local police claimed that four people were killed and nine others were wounded in the Pakistani firing.
The latest escalation comes as a fresh round of peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban are expected this month in the Qatari capital Doha. The so-called intra-Afghan talks were delayed due to postponement of a prisoner exchange between the sides.
Under the February 29 signing of the US-Taliban peace agreement, the Afghan government is to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners and the Taliban are to release 1,000 Afghan national defence and security personnel.
In 2017, with an aim to improve the security situation in the country, Pakistan had commenced the fencing of the entire border with Afghanistan. The measures have been taken to improve the border situation in line with directives of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Pakistan Army and the Frontier Constabulary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are also constructing new border posts to improve surveillance and defence. A secure boundary area is common interest of both countries.
(With input from News Desk)
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ