Afghan protesters stage fresh anti-Pakistan rallies

Hundreds of Afghans have staged fresh anti-Pakistan rallies to protest against the recent border clashes between the two countries and Islamabad’s alleged support of militants in Afghanistan.

In the Western provinces of Heart and Farah, Afghans took to the streets to protest against Islamabad’s alleged meddling in domestic affairs of the country and the border dispute.

Chanting slogans against Pakistan, the protesters strongly condemned Islamabad’s alleged support for Taliban militants in Afghanistan.

The rallies come after a new bout of fighting between the neighbors in a disputed border area near Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province.

The recent conflict focuses on a military gate which is partly built by Pakistan at a site that Afghan officials say is inside Nangarhar Province.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered his top officials to take immediate action to remove the gate and other Pakistani military installations near the Durand Line.

The two neighbors have accused each other of beginning the firing on the border.

Earlier, hundreds of angry Afghan protesters held an anti-Pakistan rally in the capital Kabul to condemn the recent clashes.

Afghan lawmakers also responded to the move by calling for an end to diplomatic ties with Islamabad.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has recently warned Pakistan in a strongly-worded statement against an escalation of violence along their contested border

Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained in recent months, especially over the delicate issue of the demarcation of their border.

Pakistan recognizes the Durand Line, the 1893 British-mandated border between the two neighbors, but Afghanistan says that activity by either side along the Durand Line must be approved by both countries.