Pakistan Summons Afghan Envoy Over Shelling

Islamabad, Sept 25, IRNA – Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Afghan envoy to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a formal protest over cross-border mortar fire from the Afghan side in North Waziristan tribal region which killed two Pakistanis yesterday. Security officials in the region said earlier that several rockets were fired from Afghan side of the border into Pakistan Ghulam Khan border region killing at least two persons. The rockets had hit a house. While conveying serious concern of the government of Pakistan at this cross-border fire violation, the Afghan authorities were asked to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, a Foreign Ministry statement said. It was emphasized again that such incidents undermined border coordination and cooperation mechanism and were detrimental to cooperative ties between the two brotherly countries, it added. Pakistan and Afghanistan accuse each other of cross-border shelling which usually increase diplomatic tensions. It was not clear as to who had fired the rockets as NATO and Afghan forces routinely engage with the Taliban militants on Afghan side of the border. It is the second firing incident from Afghan side this month which caused casualties. Pakistan had also lodged protest over the previous firing incident./end