Shelling a matter of concern, Karzai tells Sharif

KABUL: While expressing grave concern over alleged “unprovoked shelling” from Pakistan forces into eastern Kunar province, President Hamid Karzai Wednesday said terrorists had long been sneaking into Afghanistan from across the Durand Line, but Kabul had never resorted to rocket attacks.

These views were expressed by President Hamid Karzai in his telephonic conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, a statement from the Presidential Palace said. The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere, with Sharif claiming that terrorists sneaking from Afghanistan staged attacks in Pakistan.

But Karzai said terrorists had been slipping into Afghanistan for years but Kabul had never fired mortar or artillery shells into Pakistan. Afghanistan had always done what it could to spare civilians, he added.

The statement said Sharif had assured Karzai of discussing the issue with the Pakistani institutions concerned.

Also on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Pakistani ambassador and lodged a protest with him over artillery shelling into eastern Kunar and Nuristan provinces.



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