Violent incidents across Pak-Afghan border 'meant to derail' peace process
DG ISPR Maj General Babar Iftikhar addresses media on eve of Independence Day at ISPR in Rawalpindi. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
The Pakistan Army has said that the unfortunate rise in violent incidents on both sides of Pak-Afghan border is meant to "derail Afghanistan peace process".
"Pakistan earnestly believes that both countries deserve peace and progress. Together we will defeat all spoilers," Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said in a tweet on Thursday.
On July 30, at least two people were killed and 20 injured after shots were fired on protesters who stormed a quarantine centre at the border gate over not being allowed to enter the neighbouring country.
A woman was among those slain in the incident as protesters set ablaze the quarantine centre, set up along the Pak-Afghan Bab-e-Dosti gate, for Covid-19 patients.
A day after the incident occurred, Pakistan had said that the firing incident at its border with Afghanistan in Chaman, which resulted in casualties, was an act of self-defence to protect the local population.
After the incident the border crossing was closed but after negotiations, it was reopened in August.