Islamabad calls Afghan diplomat to lodge protest

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on Saturday summoned an Afghan diplomat and lodged a protest with him over an insurgent attack on a military check-post in the Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border.

The ministry in a statement said Pakistan.

The matter was also taken up by the Pakistan ambassador in Kabul, Ibrar Hussain, who contacted the Afghan Foreign Ministry to complain about the issue.

The attack on the military post on Nao Top in Bajaur left one soldier dead and injured two others. As many as 14 Taliban were also killed as Pakistani forces repulsed the attack.

The statement further added that Pakistan troops responded with artillery and aviation support.

The ministry rejected the allegations of shelling on Afghan civilians inside Afghanistan as incorrect. “Pakistan aviation only fired on attacking terrorists,” the statement read.

“Pakistan’s concerns about miscreants attacking from the other side of the border have been repeatedly shared with Afghan authorities. We hope effective steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents”.

The statement added that Pakistan would continue to exercise restraint and make efforts to maintain conducive environment for constructive engagement.

“We remain committed to maintaining a tranquil border especially in the run-up to second round of Afghan elections.”

But the governor of eastern Kunar province said two Pakistani helicopter gunships crossed into Afghanistan and shelled a border village, killing four people and injuring 10 others.

Two Pakistani military officers confirmed to a foreign news agency that the Pakistani helicopters chased the attacking insurgents into Afghanistan.

Kunar governor Shujaul Mulk Jalala said the victims included women and children, saying he had informed the Presidential Palace and the defence and interior ministries about the Pakistani airstrike.

Defence Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi told lawmakers in Kabul that President Karzai had directed the Afghan security forces to stand ready for retaliation to the Pakistani attacks.

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