ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state media this week alleged that Afghan forces resorted to “unprovoked shelling” across the border, forcing Islamabad to respond as bilateral tensions surge.
Already strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul worsened this week after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of launching overnight strikes within its territory on Tuesday that killed 10 civilians. Pakistan’s military denied it had done so.
Pakistan alleges the Afghan Taliban government in Kabul facilitates cross-border attacks by providing sanctuaries to Pakistani Taliban militants or the TTP. Kabul rejects the allegations. Pakistan’s military spokesperson this week accused the Afghan Taliban of nurturing “non-state actors” that posed threats to multiple countries in the region.
“Pakistan responded with counter-fire after Afghan border forces launched unprovoked artillery shelling into Kurram district on Saturday night,” Pakistan TV Digital reported on Saturday night, citing a local police official.
The police official said the incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night when Afghan forces fired 6–7 artillery rounds into Pakistan’s northwestern Upper Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
