General Bajwa meets Afghan diplomat to discuss security and border managament

RAWALPINDI: Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters on Wednesday.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, issues of mutual interest including security situation and border management came under discussion during the meeting.  Gen Qamar expressed his grief over loss of innocent lives in the recent terrorists attacks in Afghanistan.

The meeting came hours after a suicide bomber struck a NATO convoy near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

READ MORE :  Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack on Kandahar base

Lt Damien E Horvath, a military spokesman, said he could not say how many casualties there were or provide their nationalities. The NATO mission, known as Resolute Support, can confirm that a NATO convoy was attacked in Kandahar which did cause casualties, he said.

The Trump administration is deciding whether to send about 4,000 or more US soldiers to Afghanistan in an attempt to stem Taliban gains. The attack came as Afghan authorities in western Herat province tightened security ahead of a mass funeral for the victims there of an attack the previous evening that killed 29.

A suicide attacker opened fire inside a mosque packed with worshippers at evening prayers, before detonating his explosives. A second explosion came 10 minutes later.

No one has claimed responsibility for that attack either, but it came a day after the Islamic State group warned it would strike Shiites. The Sunni militant group considers Shiite Muslims as apostates.