Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday warned the Afghan government of retaliatory action if Kabul failed to stop its forces from carrying out unprovoked firing and shelling on innocent civilians on the Pakistani side of the border.

At his weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria pointed out that border between the two countries was clearly demarcated. He said that Pakistani teams were conducting census drive in its own area, which was Pakistan’s sovereign right, when Afghan security forces resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling.

The spokesperson asked Afghanistan to stop firing on Pakistani forces. He said Pakistan reserved the right to respond to preserve its sovereignty and protect its people in case Afghanistan fails to stop firing incidents.

He said the violation took place at a time when the teams were undertaking population census in that area as part of a national exercise. The Afghan government was informed about the census being undertaken on Pakistan side of the border and exact names of the areas were also shared with the Afghan government, he said.

The spokesperson demanded Afghan side should immediately withdraw those elements who were perpetrating these hostilities with a view to ensure peace and tranquillity on the border. “We would like to urge the Afghan government to immediately stop firing on Pakistani villages. In case, Afghanistan does not take measures to stop its provocations, Pakistan reserves the right to fully respond with a view to protect its sovereignty and citizens.”