Afghanistan has expressed grave concern about what it claimed the ”Pakistani military”s unilateral construction and physical reinforcement activities” along the border in the eastern Ningarhar province. A formal protest was also lodged amidst growing diplomatic tension between the two uneasy neighbours, reports The Express Tribune. Jawed Ludin, the country”s Deputy Foreign Minister, told Pakistani envoy in Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq that the activities are against all accepted international norms, provocative and unacceptable to the Afghan government, and that the government of Pakistan must halt them immediately, according to a an Afghan Foreign Ministry statement. Ludin also expressed the Afghan government”s grave concern about alleged Pakistani rocket and artillery attacks in different areas of Kunar province over the past several days, and said the continuation of such attacks could negatively affect existing relations between the two countries. The Afghan Ministry said that Sadiq promised to convey all of the Afghan government”s concerns and demands to relevant authorities in Pakistan. Afghanistan”s protest coincided with Pakistan Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani”s call on the top commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan to stop attacks into Pakistan from Afghanistan. The Pakistani military says that at least 100 Pakistani security personnel and civilians have been killed in 20 militant attacks from Afghan side of the border in the past year. The heightened tension has raised serious concerns over the urgently needed peace process in the war-torn country to avoid any escalations before the 2014 pullout of NATO forces. (ANI)
