- Says Pak-Afghan border to remain open for two days
ISLAMABAD, March 6: Pakistan on Monday lodged a strong protest with the Afghan Government over the martyrdom of five Pakistani soldiers at military check posts in Mohmand Agency and one soldier in Khyber agency as a result of firing by terrorists from Afghan territory.
In this regard, Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was called to the Foreign Office today for conveying Pakistan’s grave concern over the incident. The Afghan Government was urged to thoroughly investigate the incidents and take firm action against the terrorists operating from its soil to prevent recurrence of such incidents. It was further emphasized that cooperation from Afghan side for effective border management was important for preventing cross-border movement
of terrorists and militants.
Five Pakistani soldiers including Naek Sanaullah, Naek Safdar, Sepoy Altaf, Sepoy Nek Muhammad and Sepoy Anwa embraced martyrdom while 10 militants were killed in a coordinated overnight raid at several border posts on the frontier with Afghanistan.
The fighting took place in Mohmand, one of Pakistan’s so-called tribal districts that form a buffer zone between the two countries, where the military has been battling militants for over a decade.
The raid came at a time of heightened tension between the two countries, with Islamabad blaming Kabul for a recent spate in militant assaults that killed 130 people in February, after a relatively long lull in violence.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria has said that border crossings at Torkham and Chaman will be opened on Tuesday and the day after to provide an opportunity to those nationals of Afghanistan who had come to Pakistan on valid visas, and wish to return to their country. The crossing points will also be opened on these two days for those nationals of Pakistan who had gone to Afghanistan on valid visas and wish to return to the country.
The spokesperson added the decision has been conveyed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to the Afghan ambassador by telephone.-Agencies
