Afghan Shelling Kills Pakistani In Tribal Region: Report

Islamabad, Dec 9, IRNA – A Pakistani woman was killed and five others were injured in mortars shelling from Afghanistan on Saturday, tribal sources said. They said that five mortars were fired from Afghan side of the border and one landed on a house in North Waziristan tribal region, bordering Afghanistan. It was not clear who had fired the shells as the foreign and Afghan forces routinely exchange fire with the Taliban fighters along the Pak-Afghan border regions. Local media reported that Pakistani troops also returned fire and hit the direction from where the shells were fired into Pakistan. It is the second incident of mortar shelling into North Waziristan from across the border in a week. Five mortar shells fired from Afghanistan’s Khost province landed in Bangedar border area of Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan Agency on last Sunday. Cross-border shelling has heightened tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two countries accuse each other of firing. Islamabad says that Pakistani Taliban, who have fled to Afghanistan in the wake of military operations, have now established bases there and launch attacks on Pakistani border posts and villages. Kabul claims that Pakistani forces fire rockets into its soil, which cause casualties and displacement. Pakistan says it return fire when its check posts are attacked by the militants in Afghanistan./end