ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan army said on Sunday that four soldiers were killed in firing from the Afghan side of the border. The incident comes at a time when relations are tense following recent attacks in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan. It is the second incident of cross-border shelling this month. Three Pakistani security personnel were killed in exchange of fire with Afghan forces last week. Afghan side had also said eight soldiers were killed in shelling from the Pakistani side of the border.
Both countries had summoned each other’s ambassador to lodge protests over the shellings.
“Four Pakistani army soldiers embraced shahdat (martyrdom) and four were injured due to rocket fire from across Pak-Afghan border in Khyber tribal agency today,” the army said.
An army spokesman said rounds fired from Afghanistan side opposite to Khyber agency by terrorists hit a Pakistani post in Akhandwala Pass.
“Pakistani troops befittingly eliminated the group of terrorists,” he said.
Cross-border shellings have been a source of tensions between the two countries which share nearly 2,600 km border, mostly along rugged mountains.
Following the attack, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai was summoned by the Foreign Office of Pakistan.
A strong protest was lodged with the Afghan envoy, demanding Kabul to take measures on war-footing to put a curb on such cross-border attacks.
Pakistans Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the targetted check post was located at an altitude of 8,000 feet and was attacked by unidentified individuals.
Mosazai was also summoned last week by Pakistans Foreign Office following a clash between the Afghan and Pakistani forces along the Durand Line.
The Afghan envoy in Pakistan is summoned amid escalating tensions between Kabul and Islamabad over cross-border shelling and fight against terrorism.
The Afghan officials slammed Pakistan, specifically the countrys military intelligence for being involved in a series of deadly attacks in capital Kabul earlier this month which left scores of people dead or wounded.
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