The Pakistan Army on Wednesday told a visiting Afghan military delegation that “terrorists” launched cross-border attacks from their safe havens in Afghanistan and that intelligence about their bases had been shared with the Afghan authorities. The Afghan army delegation, headed by Major General Afzal Aman, visited the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army for a meeting to discuss the Pak-Afghan border situation in view of cross-border attacks. The meeting was held on the invitation of the Pakistan Army to discuss the situation. The Afghan delegation was told that the problem stemmed from terrorists’ safe havens in Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan, about which intelligence had been repeatedly shared with the Afghan authorities. An army statement said the issue of alleged cross-border artillery fire by Pakistan into Afghanistan was discussed in detail. Responding to the Afghan government’s statements about Pakistani rockets fired into Afghanistan, the statement said Afghan military officials were told that the Pakistan Army only fired when its border villages or posts were physically attacked by terrorists in a large number from their safe havens. Military Operations Director General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad said there was absolutely no possibility of indiscriminate firing by the Pakistan Army. Other border related issues also came under discussion, the statement added.
Both sides agreed on continuing bilateral interactions to enhance bilateral border coordination and reduce space for detractors.
General Nadeem thanked the Afghan delegation for accepting the invitation for the meeting. He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan.
