Afghanistan warns Pakistan against cross-border shelling

Kabul, July 23 (ANI): Just days after leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan met for peace talks, the former has warned the latter to stop cross-border shelling if it does not want bilateral ties to be harmed.

Kabul's warning came after Pakistani security forces allegedly fired over 300 heavy artillery shells and rockets into Dangam District of eastern Kunar Province on Friday and Saturday, killing at least four people, reports News 24.

Last month, cross-border firing from Pakistan into Kunar forced thousands of villagers to flee their homes, officials said. This charge was made after Islamabad accused Kabul of providing a safe haven to militants who had infiltrated Pakistan to kill 13 soldiers.

Afghanistan and Pakistan typically blame each other for violence by Taliban militants.

Afghanistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin summoned Pakistan's envoy to Kabul to discuss the latest barrage of periodic shelling across the Durand Line, a foreign ministry statement said.

"Any continuation of such reported shelling against Afghan villages could have a significant negative impact on bilateral relations," the statement quoted Ludin as telling Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq.

Both sides agreed to hold a senior-level meeting of military officials soon in Afghanistan's eastern Jalalabad city over the shelling and improve military co-ordination along the Durand Line, the statement said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Pakistan was also attacked from Afghanistan and the issue had been raised in a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

"Same like, from this side, from Kunar side, we get attacks on our armed forces, on our civilians. So we have discussed all these things, and now we have to do our utmost... to control such happenings," Ashraf said. (ANI)