Pakistan protests recent spate of Afghan govt allegations to malign it

“The Foreign Secretary stressed that such allegations undercut mutual confidence and affect the environment of bilateral relations that both countries had been working hard to improve,” read the statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). “Pakistan has been acting with maximum restraint and avoiding any blame-game.”

A strong protest was also lodged on cross-border violations from the Afghan side on 16 and 17 August 2015, which resulted in martyrdom of three FC personnel and injuries to two others.

The Afghan Ambassador was conveyed that, as a matter of policy, Pakistani authorities do not initiate fire and return fire only in self-defence.

The Foreign Secretary further conveyed to the Ambassador that as per the guidance of the leadership, Pakistan would continue its policy of restraint and responsibility and constructive engagement with Afghanistan.

We expect that the Afghan government would also reciprocate by taking effective measures to obviate recurrence of such incidents on the border, and work with Pakistan to build mutual trust and good-neighbourly relations.