Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat over cross-border attack in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan here on Wednesday summoned Afghan Charge d’ Affaires at Foreign Office (FO) and lodged a strong protest over a cross-border terrorist attack in North Waziristan that resulted in the martyrdom of three Pakistan Army soldiers.

According to a statement issued by the FO, the Afghan Charge d’Affairs was informed that Pakistan strongly protests such provocations which were detrimental to peace and stability along Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The foreign ministry urged the Afghan government to take immediate action against the terrorist elements on their side and ensure effective measures so that such incidents were not repeated in future.

It was said in the statement that the unfortunate incident resulted in the martyrdom of three Pakistani soldiers while seriously injuring seven others.

It said last night, 70-80 terrorists based in Gayan and Bermal districts of Paktika crossed Pak-Afghan border, and launched fire raids and physical attacks on Pakistani military troops operating in North Waziristan district to fence the border.

Pakistan military repulsed the attack by these terrorists who after suffering significant casualties fled back to Afghanistan in small groups, the statement said and added that these terrorists were able to escape due to lack of appropriate response by the Afghan security forces.