KHAR: A soldier was killed when rockets fired from Afghanistan hit a border post in Bajaur Agency on Friday evening.

Pakistan lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over the attack.

According to officials and local people, militants based in the Afghan province of Kunar fired several rockets and mortars into the post in Ghakhi area of tehsil Mamond, about 32km from the agency headquarters Khar.

The soldier was identified as Mustaqim Khan, a sepoy of the Frontier Crops.

Soon after the attack, security personnel and members of the local village defence committee launched a search for the assailants, but no arrest was made till late night.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the local administration said it had credible information that militants hiding in Kunar were responsible for it. “We are investigating the matter,” an official said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed the attack and said in a statement that unidentified militants had fired several rockets and mortar shells at the post. The attack was successfully repulsed by security forces.

According to the local administration, it was the fourth militant attack in Ghakhi area since May 25.

Our Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: A senior Afghan diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office to receive protest over the cross-border attack.

“A strong protest has been lodged with the Charge d’ Affaires of Afghanistan over another cross-border attack by terrorists today,” a Foreign Office statement said.

“It was stressed to the Charge d’ Affaires that the Afghan authorities must take concrete action to stop such incidents and prevent the recurrence of cross-border fire and physical attacks by terrorists operating from Afghan territory,” the statement said.

A similar protest was lodged with the Afghan Charge d’ Affaires during Eid holidays when 70 to 80 terrorists attacked a military post in Upper Dir from their sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

The attack was successfully repulsed.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014