Pakistani soldiers at Pak-Afghan border .— File Photo
Pakistani soldiers at Pak-Afghan border.— File Photo

KABUL: Nato's military force in Afghanistan has condemned cross-border shelling from Pakistan, after Kabul warned that it could significantly harm relations between the strife-torn neighbours.

Afghanistan's warning came on Sunday after officials said more than 300 heavy artillery shells and rockets were fired from Pakistan into Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province over two days, killing at least four people.

Last month, a barrage of cross-border fire from Pakistan into Kunar forced thousands of villagers to flee their homes after Islamabad accused Kabul of protecting militants who infiltrated to kill 13 Pakistani soldiers.

Afghanistan and Pakistan typically blame each other for violence by Taliban militants plaguing both sides of their border, known as the Durand Line.

Nato's International Security Assistance Force “condemns the indirect fire attacks from across the Durand Line”, Isaf said in a statement late Wednesday.

“We continue to work with the Afghan ministry of defence, and the Pakistan government to ensure an end of these attacks.”

Isaf welcomed the announcement by the Afghan foreign ministry that talks on the issue would be held soon between officials from both sides in Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad.

Pakistan on Sunday denied Afghanistan's charge of cross-border shelling, calling it “incorrect”.

“Pakistani troops only respond to and engage militants from where they are attacked/fired upon,” said a senior military official in Islamabad.

Over the last year he said at least 15 cross-border attacks were carried out by militants against Pakistani check points and the civilian populations in northwestern towns of Dir and Chitral.

Nato has some 130,000 US-led troops in Afghanistan helping the government of President Hamid Karzai fight Taliban insurgents.

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...