Cross-border shelling: Kabul summons Pakistani ambassador
Afghanistan lodges formal protest over 'Pakistani forces shelling on the Afghan border police'
Pakistan’s new Ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Afghanistan on Thursday summoned Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul to lodge a formal protest over recent cross-border shelling.
"Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Abrar Hussain, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday and a formal protest was lodged over Pakistani forces shelling on the Afghan border police in Angor Hadda area in district Barmal of Paktika province,” Afghan Foreign Ministry said.
Further, the statement in Dari language sent to The Express Tribune added, “The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Hekmat Khalil Karzai expressed serious concerns over the firing."
Read: Cross-border attack injures 2 Pakistani soldiers in Angoor Adda
“The honourable minister described the Pakistani action as contrary to principles of international law and diplomatic relations to Pakistan and asked the ambassador in Kabul to convey to the government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to prevent such movements of the security forces.”
The Afghan minister also said that “movements of Pakistani forces could be harmful for efforts of the two sides to improve, expand good neighbourly relations and maintain atmosphere of a peaceful coexistence.”
Officials from both sides of the border confirmed the exchange of firing late Tuesday night that caused casualties in both countries.
“A rocket and few rounds of small arms were fired on Angoor Adda (South Waziristan) gate from Afghan side due to which two Pakistani security personnel were injured,” a military official said.
“Pakistani troops responded and targeted positions from where fire was coming,” a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Wednesday.
Read: Hillary's advisers pushed for 'targetted' action against Pakistani military officials
Afghan Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Siddiqi Siddiqi, said that an Afghan border police commander was killed in the shelling. He claimed, “Pakistan forces had been involved in illegal construction on the Afghan side.” A Pakistani military spokesperson, however, denied the charges.
Further, a statement issued by the Afghan Foreign Ministry also expressed “serious concerns” over the shelling.
Afghanistan on Thursday summoned Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul to lodge a formal protest over recent cross-border shelling.
"Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Abrar Hussain, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday and a formal protest was lodged over Pakistani forces shelling on the Afghan border police in Angor Hadda area in district Barmal of Paktika province,” Afghan Foreign Ministry said.
Further, the statement in Dari language sent to The Express Tribune added, “The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Hekmat Khalil Karzai expressed serious concerns over the firing."
Read: Cross-border attack injures 2 Pakistani soldiers in Angoor Adda
“The honourable minister described the Pakistani action as contrary to principles of international law and diplomatic relations to Pakistan and asked the ambassador in Kabul to convey to the government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to prevent such movements of the security forces.”
The Afghan minister also said that “movements of Pakistani forces could be harmful for efforts of the two sides to improve, expand good neighbourly relations and maintain atmosphere of a peaceful coexistence.”
Officials from both sides of the border confirmed the exchange of firing late Tuesday night that caused casualties in both countries.
“A rocket and few rounds of small arms were fired on Angoor Adda (South Waziristan) gate from Afghan side due to which two Pakistani security personnel were injured,” a military official said.
“Pakistani troops responded and targeted positions from where fire was coming,” a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Wednesday.
Read: Hillary's advisers pushed for 'targetted' action against Pakistani military officials
Afghan Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Siddiqi Siddiqi, said that an Afghan border police commander was killed in the shelling. He claimed, “Pakistan forces had been involved in illegal construction on the Afghan side.” A Pakistani military spokesperson, however, denied the charges.
Further, a statement issued by the Afghan Foreign Ministry also expressed “serious concerns” over the shelling.