Pakistan Army Chief Bajwa condoles killing of U.S. troops in Afghanistan

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Ahmed Bajwa has in a rare gesture expressed his concern over the killing of two American soldiers during a Taliban attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The rare reaction from General Bajwa came after Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs and Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Alice Wells visited Islamabad.

"Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa offered heartfelt condolences on the death of two Special Forces soldiers who died in the incident (the terrorist attack on the United States forces in Kandahar)," the ISPR said in a statement.

The Dawn reported that many believe that the rare reaction over killing of US soldiers in Afghanistan was meant to address concerns in Washington, where Islamabad is widely accused of not acting against Taliban and Haqqani network sanctuaries from where they are believed to launch attacks in Afghanistan, including those on US-led coalition forces.

Two US soldiers were killed in Kandahar on Wednesday when a Taliban suicide bomber rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into a convoy of foreign forces.

"Two US service members were killed in action in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when their convoy came under attack," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said. "US Forces Afghanistan will provide additional information as it becomes available," he added.

Gen. Bajwa noted that Pakistan because of facing "similar trial of blood in fight against common threat of terrorism" well understood the anguish of the bereaved families of the soldiers killed.

Gen. Bajwa had a day earlier met Afghan envoy Dr Omar Zakhilwal for continuing the discussions on addressing irritants that had been souring the bilateral relationship.