Pakistan rejects Afghan allegations of cross-border raids

Pakistan today rejected as "baseless" the allegations by Afghanistan that Pakistani troops in civilian clothes conducted cross-border attacks in the restive Kunar province, killing three Afghan soldiers.
Afghan Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi had on Sunday alleged that Pakistani soldiers dressed as civilians attacked and killed three Afghan troopers in Dangam district of Kunar.
The allegations were levelled at a time when Pakistan seeks Afghanistan's support to tighten border security to stop militants from fleeing to the other side of the border.
The Afghan foreign ministry yesterday claimed that at least three Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers were killed in the "recent attack by Pakistani forces" in Kunar.

Pakistan's foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan saw the allegation with "deep disappointment."
"We reject these baseless allegations. The fact is that the Pakistan armed forces have been attacked repeatedly by terrorists operating from the Afghan territory," she said.

"Our armed forces have acted only in self defence, with maximum restraint and responsibility. We also expect the Afghan government to refrain from taking any action that may be detrimental to peace and stability on the border."
The spokesperson said Pakistan was making a major effort to address the scourge of terrorism, and unfounded allegations not only vitiate the environment but also undermine efforts for constructive engagement between the two countries.

She said Pakistan was committed to address the challenges of militancy and terrorism and build friendly and cooperative relationship with the people of Afghanistan.
Pakistan on June 15 launched a major offesive against militants in North Waziristan region near the Afghan border -- a week after the Taliban brazenly attacked the Karachi airport -- and asked Afghanistan to plug its side of the border to stop militants from fleeing to sanctuaries there.