Afghanistan blames Pakistan for fresh border shelling
Calls on Pakistan to ‘immediately’ prevent attacks.
ASADABAD:
Pakistani security forces have fired hundreds of rockets into Afghanistan in recent days, killing a child and forcing hundreds to flee their homes, Afghan officials said on Sunday.
Fazilullah Wahidy, governor of the northeastern province of Kunar where the shelling happened, told AFP: “The shells were fired directly from Pakistani military posts and garrisons on that side of the border.” He said at least one boy was killed in the attacks.
Afghanistan’s interior ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqui did not specify who was behind the cross-border shelling but added: “We call on Pakistan, whoever is behind the attacks, to prevent it immediately.”
He said more than 340 rockets had been fired into Afghanistan over the past four days, mostly landing in villages and farmland in the province of Kunar.
Two mosques and dozens of houses had been damaged while about 50 families had to flee their homes, Siddiqui added.
In June, Afghanistan warned that cross-border attacks could threaten “improving trust and cooperation” between the neighbours unless Pakistan addressed the issue. Pakistan denies any official involvement in the incidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2011.
Pakistani security forces have fired hundreds of rockets into Afghanistan in recent days, killing a child and forcing hundreds to flee their homes, Afghan officials said on Sunday.
Fazilullah Wahidy, governor of the northeastern province of Kunar where the shelling happened, told AFP: “The shells were fired directly from Pakistani military posts and garrisons on that side of the border.” He said at least one boy was killed in the attacks.
Afghanistan’s interior ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqui did not specify who was behind the cross-border shelling but added: “We call on Pakistan, whoever is behind the attacks, to prevent it immediately.”
He said more than 340 rockets had been fired into Afghanistan over the past four days, mostly landing in villages and farmland in the province of Kunar.
Two mosques and dozens of houses had been damaged while about 50 families had to flee their homes, Siddiqui added.
In June, Afghanistan warned that cross-border attacks could threaten “improving trust and cooperation” between the neighbours unless Pakistan addressed the issue. Pakistan denies any official involvement in the incidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2011.