ISLAMABAD / KHAR: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday traded allegations following a cross-border attack allegedly by Kunar-based Pakistani Taliban on military posts in Bajaur Agency in which one soldier died and two others were injured.

The army said it had repulsed the early morning attack by a horde of militants on military posts and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers.

The military’s public affairs division, ISPR, claimed that 16 militants were killed in retaliatory attacks by troops who were supported by helicopter gunships.

“At 5.15 in the morning today, a large number of ‘terrorists’ from across the border attacked a group of Pakistani posts on Nao Top,” a military spokesman said, adding that troops gave a befitting reply and helicopter gunships were sent in as reinforcement.

The attacked border posts are located 33km from Bajaur Agency’s main town Khar, which serves as headquarters of the political administration.

Bajaur Agency sits directly across Afghanistan’s Kunar province where a large number of suspected Pakistani militants who had fled operations in Swat and Bajaur have been living for the last few years. These people have in the past launched similar cross-border attacks.

Pakistani protests with the Afghan government and coalition forces command in the past went unheeded and authorities there turned a blind eye to their sanctuaries.

Saturday’s attack was the second allegedly by Afghan-based Pakistani militants in the past seven days. On May 25 a group had struck in Mano Zangal area. Five suspected militants were killed in that incident.

The Pakistan military said it had intelligence information that 150-200 militants belonging to the outlawed TTP Swat and TTP Bajaur had assembled in Ghund village of Kunar to launch the assault. The attackers, a local administration official said, were armed with heavy weapons.

Due to the magnitude of the attack, troops at the border posts sought aerial support. Helicopter gunships were sent to engage the suspected intruding militants.

The exchange of fire, a military official said, went on for over three hours.

The assailants later fled back to Afghanistan.

AFGHAN VERSION: Afghan officials claimed that Pakistani helicopter gunships overflew the border and carried out shelling in their territory.

The governor of Kunar, Shuja ul-Mulk Jalala, was quoted by Afghan and international media as claiming that four Afghan civilians were killed in firing by helicopter gunships.

The bombardment by Pakistani helicopters, Mr Jalala said, lasted for over two hours.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was alerted about the incident by his officials.

The allegation of shelling Afghan territory was rebutted by the Foreign Office in Islamabad, which said in a statement that the helicopters were used to target the intruding militants.

“To repulse the terrorist attack, Pakistani troops responded with artillery and aviation support. Any allegations about shelling on Afghan civilians inside Afghanistan are incorrect. The Pakistan aviation only fired on attacking terrorists,” the FO maintained.

The Afghan charge d’affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office to receive the protest over the cross-border strike.

He was told that Islamabad hoped Kabul would take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

He was assured that Pakistan would continue to exercise restraint and make efforts to maintain a conducive environment for constructive engagement.

The Afghan diplomat was reminded about Pakistan’s contribution to safe conduct of the first phase of presidential elections.

Afghanistan will hold the run-off polls on June 14.

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

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2014