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Islamabad [Pakistan]China News Service, December 17 (Xinhua) Pakistani Foreign Ministry summoned Afghan officials in Islamabad on Friday to “strongly condemn” the recent cross-border shelling incident in the Chaman-Spin Boldak area.
“Afghanistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Pakistani side strongly condemns the recent unprovoked cross-border shelling by the Afghan Border Security Forces in the Chaman-Spin Boldak area, causing casualties and casualties. Property damage, has been conveyed,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement added: “Reaffirming that the protection of civilians remains the responsibility of both parties and that these incidents must be prevented from happening again. The parties agreed to use established institutional mechanisms in this regard.”
The statement came after armed clashes between Pakistani and Afghani security forces on the Chaman border left at least one dead and 15 wounded, according to Dawn newspaper.
Following the clashes, authorities in Chamain declared a state of emergency and closed the market. Two women and children were injured in Thursday’s clashes.
In a statement, the Pakistani military’s media wing accused Afghanistan of “indiscriminate fire” against civilians in Chaman. The Taliban, however, took aim at Pakistan, accusing them of aggression.
Last month, the Pakistan-Afghan border, also known as the “Gate of Friendship,” was briefly closed after a Pakistani soldier was shot and killed from the Afghan side by an armed man last week.
The incident injured two security personnel and prompted the two countries to close the border in Chaman, Balochistan, according to the Dawn newspaper. Security officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan shook hands after the reopening of the Chaman border friendship gate.
At a flag meeting at the Gate of Friendship, the two sides discussed the need for a “joint mechanism” to end border violence. The idea of ​​a joint interrogation to investigate the incident has also been mooted, Dawn reported.
Trade between the two countries, including Afghan transit trade, was suspended after last week’s incident.
Asian Lite International said in its report that the increasing incidents of border clashes could be seen as a tactical ploy by Pakistan to punish the Taliban for failing to reach a peace deal with the Pakistani Taliban Terrorist Group (TTP).
“Pakistan, frustrated by continued instability in Afghanistan, may not wish to be seen as an ‘ally’ of the Taliban government to avoid the burden of stabilizing Afghanistan at a time when Islamabad itself faces an unprecedented economic and political crisis,” the report added. (Arnie)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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