Anti-Pakistan protest staged in Sar-i-Pul

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN for the May 1 border skirmish with Afghan forces in eastern Nangarhar province.

Spiritual leaders, students, government officials, shopkeepers and others staged a demonstration in Sar-i-Pul, chanting slogans against Pakistan and in support of Afghan security personnel.

An Afghan border police official, Mohammad Qasim, was martyred during the seven-hour clash in the Konsari area of Goshta district about two weeks ago.

A checkpoint of Pakistan troops and a border gate they had erected on Afghan soil were also destroyed in the high-stakes battle, which has sparked angry protests in a number of Afghan cities.

Nearly 400 people began the two-hour protest at 8am, praying for the soul of Mohammad Qasim, the deputy police chief, Col. Sakhi Dad Haidari, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Pakistan was an enemy of Afghanistan that always tried to fuel the war in the country, said an organiser of the demonstration, Mohammad Adil Sar-i-Puli.

Qasim was as national hero and people were ready to fight alongside Afghan forces against Pakistan and other aggressors, said another protester, Qurban Ali.

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