ISLAMABAD: Director General Military Opeartions (DGMO) Pakistan Army Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza on Friday established contact through hotline with his Afghan counterpart and condemned unprovoked firing on Pakistani villagers and security forces which left 10 dead and 42 others injured.
The DGMO told his counterpart that the villages are situated on both sides but Pakistan forces and civilians are on their own side of the border.
The Afghan DGMO acknowledged that border is in between villages and not at the ditch which is well inside Pakistan as being perceived by them.
Sahir Shamshad Mirza asked Afghan DGMO to keep their forces on their side of the border to defuse the situation. He said that Pakistan Army shall continue work within its border.
Read More: 10 civilians die, 42 injured in cross-border Afghan firing in Chaman
A local commanders level border flag meeting is in progress post the hotline contact. The Afghan DGMO has agreed to take up the matter and issue necessary orders accordingly. Fire has stopped as of now.
At least ten civilians were martyred while 42 injured including women and children in an unprovoked firing and shelling from Afghan side of the border in Chaman in the wee hours of Friday.
Pakistani authorities have closed the Chaman border crossing with Afghanistan to stop all cross-border movement after unprovoked shelling and firing from the other side of the border.
Four Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan personnel were also among the injured.
The firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas on the Pakistan side of the border and caused damage to properties.
FO summons Afghan charge d’affaires
The Foreign Office today summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires to lodge Pakistan’s strong protest over the unprovoked firing by the Afghan forces.
The Afghan charge d’ affairs was conveyed that Pakistani authorities were undertaking the population census and this information had been shared with Afghan government earlier. We urge the Afghan government to take immediate steps to bring an end the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side. Action should also be taken against those who are responsible for this violation.
On the other hand, funeral prayers of nine martyred have been offered, which were attended by local civil and security officers.
