Maher Prince

MuftPakistan: NATO condemns cross-border shelling

Maher Afrasiab 1

<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDetail"></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.cnbcpakistan.com/sendbinary.aspx?path=E:%5CWebsites%5CCNBCPakistan%5CNewsPictures%5C2012726134516_samaa_tv.jpg&width=280&height=139&interpolation=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" class="cntimg" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_imgPicture" src="http://www.cnbcpakistan.com/sendbinary.aspx?path=E:%5CWebsites%5CCNBCPakistan%5CNewsPictures%5C2012726134516_samaa_tv.jpg&width=280&height=139&interpolation=1" style="border-width: 0px;" /></a>KABUL:<br /> NATO's military force in Afghanistan has condemned cross-border <br />shelling from Pakistan, after Kabul warned that it could significantly <br />harm relations between the strife-torn neighbours.<br /><br /><br />Afghanistan's<br /> warning came on Sunday after officials said more than 300 heavy <br />artillery shells and rockets were fired from Pakistan into Afghanistan's<br /> eastern Kunar province over two days, killing at least four people.<br /><br /><br />Last<br /> month, a barrage of cross-border fire from Pakistan into Kunar forced <br />thousands of villagers to flee their homes after Islamabad accused Kabul<br /> of protecting militants who infiltrated to kill 13 Pakistani soldiers.<br /><br /><br />Afghanistan<br /> and Pakistan typically blame each other for violence by Taliban Islamic<br /> militants plaguing both sides of their border, known as the Durand <br />Line.<br /><br /><br />NATO's International Security Assistance Force "condemns<br /> the indirect fire attacks from across the Durand Line", ISAF said in a <br />statement late Wednesday.<br /><br /><br />"We continue to work with the Afghan ministry of defence, and the Pakistan government to ensure an end of these attacks."<br /><br /><br />ISAF<br /> welcomed the announcement by the Afghan foreign ministry that talks on <br />the issue would be held soon between officials from both sides in <br />Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad.<br /><br /><br />Pakistan on Sunday denied Afghanistan's charge of cross-border shelling, calling it "incorrect".<br /><br /><br />"Pakistani<br /> troops only respond to and engage militants from where they are <br />attacked/fired upon," said a senior military official in Islamabad.<br /><br /><br />Over<br /> the last year he said at least 15 cross-border attacks were carried out<br /> by militants against Pakistani check points and the civilian <br />populations in northwestern towns of Dir and Chitral.<br /><br /><br />NATO has<br /> some 130,000 US-led troops in Afghanistan helping the government of <br />President Hamid Karzai fight Taliban Islamist insurgents.<br />

defence news news MuftPakistan: NATO condemns cross-border shelling

KABUL: NATO's military force in Afghanistan has condemned cross-border shelling from Pakistan, after Kabul warned that it could sign...