Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat over cross-border attack

Pakistan on Monday summoned a senior Afghan diplomat and lodged protest over a recent cross-border attack that killed at least five Pakistani soldiers.

The army said earlier that terrorists launched attacks on three checkpoints in Mohmand Agency on late Sunday.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed the attacks.

Pakistani officials insist that Ahrar, which is blamed for several deadly attacks in the country, "operates from the Afghan side of the border."

In this regard, the deputy head of Afghan mission was called to the Foreign Office Monday to learn Pakistan's grave concern over the incident, said Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

The statement said the Afghan government was urged to thoroughly investigate the incidents and take firm action against the terrorists operating from its soil to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

"It was further emphasized that cooperation from Afghan side for effective border management was important for preventing cross-border movement of terrorists and militants."

source: Xinhua