Cross-border attacks: Upset at demarche, Islamabad dismisses Kabul allegations
Foreign ministry issues statement after Afghanistan summons Pakistan’s senior diplomat.
Foreign ministry issues statement after Afghanistan summons Pakistan’s senior diplomat. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan voiced dismay at Afghanistan’s summoning of its senior diplomat in Kabul over alleged cross-border ‘attacks’, calling the actions as well as charges “regrettable and disappointing”.
“We have seen with deep regret and disappointment the statements by senior Afghan officials continuing allegations of Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist incidents in Afghanistan and ‘impeding’ efforts for talks between Taliban and the High Peace Council,” a foreign ministry statement said.
It also warned that any spiralling of ‘this blame-game’ could spoil the bilateral relationship and undermine Pakistan’s sincere efforts to rebuild trust and understanding. Earlier Pakistani charge d’affaires, Muzzaam Shah, was summoned to seek explanation over the cross-border attacks, an Afghan foreign ministry statement said. The Dari-language statement was received by The Express Tribune in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul also confirmed the news. “The ambassador is in Pakistan and but the deputy chief of the mission (DCM) was summoned,” a Pakistan embassy official said.
The Afghan foreign ministry did not mention any specific incident of rocket firing.
“Abdul Samad Samad, director general of the First Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed Afghanistan’s protests over the continuation of systematic and routine attacks and demanded to stop these attacks,” the Afghan foreign ministry said.
The Afghan official claimed: “Pakistani attacks have caused human and property losses in the past which is violation of international laws and the spirit of neighbourhood.”
The statement said the Afghan Foreign Ministry official also handed over a list of ‘Pakistani attacks’ to the Muzzaam Shah.
“The Pakistani charge d’affaires assured that he will convey Afghanistan’s concerns to his country’s officials,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry said.
The allegations come amid Afghan shelling of mortars into Pakistani territory twice last week. No one was hurt in the recent Afghan rocketing that pounded in North Waziristan tribal region.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.
Pakistan voiced dismay at Afghanistan’s summoning of its senior diplomat in Kabul over alleged cross-border ‘attacks’, calling the actions as well as charges “regrettable and disappointing”.
“We have seen with deep regret and disappointment the statements by senior Afghan officials continuing allegations of Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist incidents in Afghanistan and ‘impeding’ efforts for talks between Taliban and the High Peace Council,” a foreign ministry statement said.
It also warned that any spiralling of ‘this blame-game’ could spoil the bilateral relationship and undermine Pakistan’s sincere efforts to rebuild trust and understanding. Earlier Pakistani charge d’affaires, Muzzaam Shah, was summoned to seek explanation over the cross-border attacks, an Afghan foreign ministry statement said. The Dari-language statement was received by The Express Tribune in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul also confirmed the news. “The ambassador is in Pakistan and but the deputy chief of the mission (DCM) was summoned,” a Pakistan embassy official said.
The Afghan foreign ministry did not mention any specific incident of rocket firing.
“Abdul Samad Samad, director general of the First Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed Afghanistan’s protests over the continuation of systematic and routine attacks and demanded to stop these attacks,” the Afghan foreign ministry said.
The Afghan official claimed: “Pakistani attacks have caused human and property losses in the past which is violation of international laws and the spirit of neighbourhood.”
The statement said the Afghan Foreign Ministry official also handed over a list of ‘Pakistani attacks’ to the Muzzaam Shah.
“The Pakistani charge d’affaires assured that he will convey Afghanistan’s concerns to his country’s officials,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry said.
The allegations come amid Afghan shelling of mortars into Pakistani territory twice last week. No one was hurt in the recent Afghan rocketing that pounded in North Waziristan tribal region.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.