ISLAMBAD: Pakistan summoned a senior Afghan diplomat on Wednesday and registered a protest over a skirmish during which Pakistani security forces foiled a militant attack on a checkpost on the Pak-Afghan border.
Military sources were quoted as saying that six attackers were killed and nine wounded during a cross-border militant assault on a checkpost on the Pak-Afghan border in Lower Dir region which was repulsed by Pakistan's security forces late on Tuesday.
The officials, who requested anonymity, also said security along the Pakistan-Afghan border was beefed up to foil such attacks from Afghan territory.
Pakistan's Foreign Office in Islamabad summoned the Afghan charge d’ affaires and lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over the cross-border attack.
A Foreign Office statement said that Pakistan would be taking up the matter with the Afghan Government at a higher level in the broader context of enhancing security along the Pak-Afghan border.
Between 70-80 suspected militants were involved in the cross-border attack on Pakistan military post in Upper Dir (between Tripaman and Inkal Sar) on Tuesday night, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The statement added that seven attackers were killed and nine injured as the assault was successfully repulsed by Pakistan's military.
The details could not be independently verified as the access of media is severely restricted in the region.
Pakistan once again urged Afghanistan to take effective steps to stop the use of its territory for repeated cross-border fire and physical attacks by terrorists.
The Foreign Office statement said the country emphasised on the extension of all possible cooperation from the Afghan side and measures taken by Afghanistan to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries on its territory, at a time when Pakistan was undertaking a monumental effort against terrorists and their hideouts through the launch of operation Zarb-i-Azb.
Earlier in June this year the military launched a full-scale operation against Taliban militants in North Waziristan tribal region, named as Zarb-i-Azb, following a brazen Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)-claimed attack on Karachi's International Airport and failure of peace talks between government and Talibam nominated negotiators.
Pakistan has repeatedly asked Afghan authorities not to militants fleeing from North Waziristan tribal region and to destroy militant hideouts on its territory.
