Taliban authorities on Saturday summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul toprotest against military strikes inside Afghanistan by Pakistani forces,the Afghan foreign ministry said.
A local Taliban official and residents said 36 people were killed in airstrikes on Friday by Pakistani aircraft entering Afghan airspace. Pakistandenied it carried out the strikes.
Islamabad claims militants carry out attacks inside Pakistan by crossingits lawless western border with Afghanistan. Taliban authorities say theyhave controlled the attacks since taking over the country in August lastyear.
A statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan’sAmbassador in Kabul had been summoned over the recent attacks in Khost andKunar provinces and given a diplomatic demarche to deliver to Islamabad.
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“Military violations including those in Khost and Kunar must be preventedas such acts deteriorate relations … allowing antagonists to misuse thesituation leading to undesired consequences,” the statement quoted actingAfghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as saying.
The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the strikes, but a localTaliban leader in Khost, Mawlawi Mohammad Raes Helal, said two districtswere bombed by Pakistani helicopters and that 36 people had been killed.
