ISLAMABAD: The Chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan based in Islamabad was called in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register Pakistan’s strong condemnation over recent firing incidents.

The FO conveyed condemnation over the unprovoked cross-border shelling by Afghan Border Security Forces in the Chaman-Spin Boldak area, resulting in loss of life, injuries and damage to property.

It was reiterated that protection of civilians remained the responsibility of both sides and that recurrence of these incidents must be prevented.

It was agreed to use established institutional mechanisms in this regard.

The FO in a statement said Pakistan remained committed to maintaining fraternal relations with Afghanistan.

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“Peace along the Pak-Afghan border is intrinsic to this end,” it said.

On Thursday (Dec 15), Afghan border forces opened indiscriminate firing and heavy shelling on Pakistani civilian area in Chaman resulting in one death and at least seven civilians injured.

The injured due to firing along the Chaman border includes women and children.

After the attack, Pakistani security forces responded immediately and the area is being evacuated after the clash and emergency was declared in the hospital.

This was the second time that Afghan border force had attacked civilians in Pakistan.

Earlier, Afghan Taliban forces killed six civilians in Pakistan and injured at least 17 others in an “unprovoked” bombing and gunfire attack on a border town on Sunday (Dec 11).

The Pakistani military denounced the strike at Chaman on Sunday, claiming that the Afghan side fired “indiscriminately.”

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Afghanistan had apologized over its security forces’ unprovoked firing in Chaman which resulted in the martyrdom of seven civilians.