Afghanistan-Pakistan border guards trade fire: Afghan officials
The incident, which reportedly caused no casualties, comes amid growing border tension between the neighbors, with Kabul alleging that Pakistani security forces have fired hundreds of rounds into Afghanistan in recent months.
Pakistani officials were not immediately available for comment but Islamabad has rejected similar allegations in recent past, saying Pakistani troops only respond to attacks from militants.
Afghanistan and Pakistan typically blame each other for violence by Taliban militants plaguing both sides of their border, known as the Durand Line.
Afghanistan's interior ministry said Afghan border police and Pakistani security forces traded artillery fire in eastern Kunar province's Dangam district on the frontline between the two countries, but there were no casualties.
"One of our border posts came under fire this morning from across the border. Our border police returned fire and the clash lasted for more than two hours," Najeeb Nikzad, an interior ministry spokesman, told AFP.
"No one has been hurt on our side and there are no reports of casualties on the other side either," he added.
He said Pakistani forces fired about 50 rounds - 20 artillery and 27 mortar shells.
Afghanistan's parliament earlier this month dismissed the country's defence and interior ministers over alleged security failures, including the shelling of Afghan soil from Pakistan.
NATO's military force in Afghanistan last month condemned cross-border shelling from Pakistan, after Kabul warned that it could significantly harm relations between the strife-torn neighbours.
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Who should we believe? Kabul claimed that "one of their border posts came under a shelling attack from Pakistan, prompting Afghans to return fire in a clash that lasted for more than two hours". Islamabad wasn't ready to comment yet in the past it had rejected "similar allegations, saying Pakistani troops only respond to attacks from militants".
@Ashfaq Khan: "As we all know India or any Non-Muslim Nation can not be a good friend of Muslim brotherhood.'" How can you be a part of international community with such a twisted mind set ?
@Soldat Amir: It is a historical truth that Afghans ruled a large portion of north Indian subcontinent including the area now called Pakistan.
I am here to expose some realities. As I grown up in KPK, I witnessed to those afghans who migrated and settled in Pakistan. There is not a single country in the world who ever managed to own millions of migrated people without visas or proper documentation at once. First I would like to thank Pakistanis and specially Pashtuns of KPK who embraced afghans during war time and showed solidarity with these Muslims brothers and sisters. I remember that residents of the area were offering shelter,food and other basic necessities of life absolutely free of cost to to those Afghans. Pakistan faced recession and unemployment due to migration. According to official survey of UNHCR five million afghans are still residing in Pakistan ( excluding Illegal migrants who are more than registered). It was not easier to provide food and other economic goods to millions of people from limited resources but Pakistan succeeded. After decades still these Afghans can be seen in Peshawar and other local districts residing illegally in thousands of number and operating their businesses and other economic activities. Sometime I asked them why you should not leave for Afghanistan as it recovered now? and they reply simply, that they can not manage easily too much money as they do here in Pakistan. They move from one place to another place freely and no one interfere them. But at other side when our professionals visit Afghanistan they come back with anger feelings for those afghans living in Pakistan. They face discrimination and violence in Afghanistan. Despite all these facts, a large number of afghans are involved in illegal activities, they could be named theft, spying, illegal boarder crossing, kidnapping for ransom, abduction etc. If we look on their international strategies, they are worse at that. Afghanistan is working day and night to pave the way for India. As we all know India or any Non-Muslim Nation can not be a good friend of Muslim brotherhood. But despite this belief they are creating troubles for both Iran and Pakistan alike. In Short Afghanistan should review their Geo-strategic policies taking these points into account, if they really want to keep better relationship with Pakistan and getting freedom from others invaders.
Afghanistan will erase Durrand line and rewrite the borders.
We will take our land back from you. You have been living off our blood by supporting the US war.
@ khan of jandul, I was right on target for you Afghans to be spewing venom. I have mentioned facts, your country is occupied and your citizens are being killed daily by occupiers and who is defending your county's freedon, those are the Pukhtuns and not the Tajics,Hazarars and Uzbeks, this later group has joined the occupiers, Just look around you who is doing what. I don't claim Pakistan is democratic or up and up for it's citizens, as a matter of fact it is the most corrupt country on earth, but there is this progressive elements in Pakistan which has contributed to it's finances, education and culture beside being the only Muslim country with nuclear capabilities. By the way how long this satrap Karzai has been in power and who is propping him, so get off your high horse or donkey and face the realities of life. Your country has become a satellite of US and India and welcome to join the Pakistani club as being a subservient State to the US and to some extent to middle eastern countries.By the way where is this Jandul, I know a place called the Woochay Khan( dry land khan).
Don't think these are just ordinary skirmishes. Could be the build up to something much bigger. Pakistan has to be very careful as the US is already on edge with Pakistan and any aggression against Karzai's Afghanistan could be the trigger for the unthinkable...a US v/s Pakistan war. And guess who will be watching with interest(& some concern) from the sidelines of Pakistan's eastern border....
Good Job Afghanistan.
US Centcom, Many high government officials are dishonest in Pakistan...issueing funds to this Pakistan government is a total waste. it does not reach or spent where its suppose to. It will be great to have an honest government first. more than half of the issues can be resolved by this.
Initiating fire on Afghan/NATO troops started the Salala debacle -- it would appear that no lesson was learned from that mistake.
@US Centcom:
stop pretending to be an independent US government institution douchebag.
@ Naeem Khan! But I think you need to be reminded that since 1947, Pakistan has remained recepient of the US and western assistance. It was not Afghanistan which was bidding the US and Western interests in the region, but Pakistan , which got membership of SEATO and CENTO to advance the US interests. It doesnot matter if you are from Mardan, Qazi Hussain Ahmad is also from Nowshera. Likewise, thousands of other extremists also belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. but this doesnot mean that all Pakhtuns are like you. Exporting terrorism, using one 's territory for terrorist sanctuaries and training and attacking other countries is voilation of the UN charter, which Pakistan has signed. The Motherland of Pakhtuns (Afghanistan) has every right of self defense and seeking support of every major power against the onslaught of dark forces, who want to obliterate civilization. Dr. Farooq Khan was also from Mardan, but this brave Pakhtun was killed by the dark forces, whom you are defending.
I think both nations should remain calm and reslove this issue as soon as possible before it is too complicated to put an end to it.
Thats a show off ! that also makes money
@Lol: in your arrogance have you forgotten we afghans have ruled over you people since time immaterial.does history not teach you a lesson never to mess with afghans.
Dear AAA,
We acknowledge that the cross border attacks are an area of concern. We are working closely with our regional partners to address this issue. It is important for all the regional partners to coordinate and communicate effectively in regard to our shared concerns. It will serve us no good to turn our backs on each other and allow this issue to deter us from working towards our common goal of stabilizing the region. We have to keep in mind that we are fighting the same terrorists. And these terrorists are focused on creating hurdles for the sake of gaining advantage. At the moment, our focus should be on combining our strength against our common enemies. We have been able to overcome many obstacles and challenges associated with the WOT by working side-by-side. We have a shared responsibility to combat terrorism; the key to success lies in shared cooperation.
@KN: You should know that Afghanistan has been a willing puppet of the Indians since 1947 so there is no reason to propose that Afghanistan work to destablize Pakistan. Afghanis are good at destroying their own nation very well and causing trouble their neighboring nations without your advice. What is needed is for ISAF to build a big fence / wall along the border with Afghanistan / Pakistan to prevent the movement of illegal Afghanis into Pakistan. Also the millions of Afghani refugees living in Pakistan need to be deported back to Kabul.
@Khan of Jandul, "No need to remind the Pak military that Afghanistan has changed a lot in the past decade." Sure Afghanistan has changed and by who, Afghanistan has been occupied by foreign forces for the last 11 years and what kind of Army you have, your citizens are killed, maimed and Raped with impunity by foreign occupied forces and nothing your Army could do. Yes, Afghanistan has changed, a proud nation who now toadies to the Americans and the rest of western European countries. The best solution is to build a 10 feet high electric fence at the border and keep the Afghan refugees and insurgent out of Pakistan, you may ask your protectorate India to help you build the fence on your side Hey, why don't you ask your countrymen who are living in KP for decades to come back to Afghanistan because Afghanistan is changed and now it is a hunky-dori country. I am a pukhtun from Mardan and I could see how much venom you Afghans are spewing every day instead of extending hands of friendship.
@Khan of Jandul: Afghanistan is a mini country that will always remain a backyard unfortunately. It does not have any military or economic muscle to challenge Pakistan. You need to go on the dialogue table, military conflicts will never solve anything for you.
Most comments indicate how much hatred People of Pakistan have towards Afghanistan. They want to seal the border, stop supply routes and show Afghanistan its place. In any case no one can beat Pakistan in shelling and firing in the neighboring countries. They have mastered this art as a sport of their forces. Another point comes to mind is that religious brother hood and all is just a facade Pakistan wants domination of its neighbors.
brothers of the ummah making diwali!
@Proud and Loud... Pakistan is not running on Afghan transit money since 65 years.. And did anything different happened during the last 8 months when the convey was closed for NATO. Allah is feeding us not USA. mind your words..
By firing artillery shells, Pak military want to place thier proxies on the Afghan side of the border as well as forcing the Afghan government to come to terms with Pakistan on the demarcation of border in the disputed territory. For too long, Afghanistan remained passive in the face of Pakistani agression, however, the increasing hostility in the Afghan public opinion over the shelling of Pakistani military has left no room for the Afghan gov but to respond to Pakistani agression. No need to remind the Pak military that Afghanistan has changed a lot in the past decade. Afghanistan occupies center stage in global politics and strategic cooperation with various powerful countries has strengthened Afghan position viz-a-viz Pakistan military. For example, provsion the Afghan-US Strategic Pact obliges the US to provide military, diplomatic and economic support to Afghanistan in the face of any overt or covert agression by any other country. Afghans could invoke this article against Pakistani agression.
@AAA:
....to Pakistan
@AAA they can't otherwise pakistan will collapse.. all the money Pakistan (and Pakistanin Army) is getting is because they are supporting America/NATO.. you can't kill the hand that feed you, can you?? ;-)
The long term strategy got failed. This situation is the same was reported for years on Pak-Indian borders now after the decades' war the new shift comes to heard between Pakistan and Afghanistan borders.
What a "Strategic" depth!
This exchange of gun fire will not bear any fruit. An alternative approach to this is that; Afghan forces to retreat and spend the time, money and energy by supporting anti Pakistani insurgents destabilizing Pakistan-- helping the Baluch and Pashtun nationalists.
Gen Kayani warns of a civil war in Pakistan but the same may start from Afghanistan.
Pakistan's government has always been a problem both for Afghanistan and Pakistan's people. Pakistan needs a revolution; a revolution in politics, a revolution in society and a revolution in beliefs. That's the solution.
Why does ET never quote the ISPR and always quote foreign channels?
Ban Afghan Transit Trade, this would be the best course of action to keep them at the level where they deserve.
Seal the Afghan border and close the NATO supply that will teach them a lesson or two!
fire-force