Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat over cross-border shelling

Pakistan has summoned Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad to protest against a recent cross-border shelling, which has reportedly killed two Pakistani civilians and injured some others.

Islamabad said in a Wednesday statement that Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Afghan diplomat to protest against “unprovoked firing.”

Local Pakistani security official said the deaths happened in North Waziristan region following heavy shelling by Afghan troops across border on Tuesday

The Foreign Ministry also called on Afghan authorities to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Tensions between the two neighbors have risen in recent months. Afghanistan blames elements within the Pakistani government for supporting Taliban militants, while Islamabad blames Kabul for giving refuge to militants on its side of the border

The US invaded Afghanistan with the official objective of curbing militancy and bringing peace and stability to the region. However, after more than 11 years, the region remains unstable and militancy has expanded towards Pakistan.

Moreover, relations between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained in recent months, especially over the delicate issue of demarcation of the two countries’ border, which is a key battleground in the fight against the Taliban.

Afghanistan has never recognized the British-drawn colonial era border line with northwestern Pakistan.

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.