KABUL): Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani spoke by telephone with President Karzai Thursday to express concern over recent cross-border violence, officials said.
They agreed to establish a joint military commission to address the issue, according to a statement issued by the presidential palace.
Over the past month 700 artillery shells have been fired from Pakistan across the Afghan border into the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, Khost and Paktia. Over 50 Afghan civilians have been killed as a result and dozens injured. Many area families have fled their homes.
According the statement, Presidents Karzai and Gilani emphasized that Afghanistan and Pakistan should take immediate steps to resolve the cross-border violence and maintain good relations.
Both sides, they said, must work toward sustainable security.
President Karzai has asked Defence Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak to represent Afghanistan in the joint military commission.
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