ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said that the government is looking into the situation after conflicting reports emerged about violence in Afghanistan on Saturday.

While replying to a query after the Taliban authorities held Pakistan responsible for ‘military violations’, FO spokesman Asim Iftikhar said the government was looking into the situation and “will give its position accordingly”.

A spokesman for Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul also denied the Afghan claim.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the media affairs wing of the armed forces, has not yet issued a statement in this regard.

The issue also echoed in the National Assembly where at least one lawmaker condemned the incident.

According to Reuters, a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan’s Ambassador in Kabul had been summoned over the recent attacks in Khost and Kunar provinces and given a diplomatic demarche to deliver to Islamabad.

The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the strikes.

“Military violations including those in Khost and Kunar must be prevented as such acts deteriorate relations ... allowing antagonists to misuse the situation leading to undesired consequences,” the statement quoted acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as saying.

Pakistan embassy spokesman told Reuters the ambassador and “Taliban authorities discussed a resolution of border issues”.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2022