Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over ‘unprovoked firing incident’

Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Afghan Charge d’ Affaires and was lodged a formal protest over Afghan forces firing, which injured at least five troops, the Foreign Ministry said.

Tensions escalated between the two uneasy neighbours over cross-border shelling in recent weeks that has overshadowed their cooperation for the much-needed peace and reconciliation process.

“The Afghan Charge d’ Affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office today for conveying protest of the Government of Pakistan on repetition of an unprovoked firing incident that took place on May 06, 2013 at 0845 hours from the Afghan posts on the Pakistani Gursal post,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The statement said that five Frontier Constabulary (FC), soldiers got injured as a result of the unprovoked firing incident.

“As in the past, Pakistan security forces exercised maximum restraint and communicated first to the Afghan side about repetition of this serious violation through military channels,” the statement said.

The statement said that the Afghan Cd’A was conveyed Government of Pakistan’s serious concern and asked to advise the relevant authorities in Afghanistan to avoid repetition of unprovoked firing which undermines the existing coordination mechanisms between the security forces of the two countries.

“Afghan Cd’A was also conveyed that in case of any further escalation as a result of this situation, the responsibility would be on the Afghan Government.”

The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan feels that repetition of unprovoked firing incidents are adversely affecting the friendly relations between the two brotherly countries which have covered a long distance in building trust and understanding in the recent years.

Afghan government also summoned Afghan Charge d’ Affaires in Kabul on Monday and was lodged protest over what it said Pakistani shelling on Afghan posts.

The tension started last after Kabul claimed that Pakistan had constructed posts on the Afghan side of the border, the claim denied by Islamabad. Pakistan says that it has renovated its old post to improve border management and to check the  movement of the militants.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=40144

Posted by Tahir Khan on May 7 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.