Pakistan Retaliates After Afghan Forces Open Fire on Border, Spokesperson Says

Kathmandu. Pakistan responded to shelling from Afghanistan on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Tuesday, said Pakistani Prime Minister's spokesperson Musharraf Zaidi. The spokesperson stated that the Afghan side initiated unprovoked shelling on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Torkham and Tirah sub-regions of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He mentioned that Pakistan's security forces responded immediately and effectively, adding that the country will continue to defend its citizens and protect its territorial integrity.

Sina reported, quoting Afghan Ministry of Defense Deputy Spokesperson Sediqullah Nusrat, that the clash occurred when Pakistani troops fired upon Afghan personnel who were on regular patrol in the area.

Earlier, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had stated that Afghanistan would respond to the airstrikes conducted by Pakistan on Sunday. The Afghan side claimed that Pakistani military airstrikes on the bilateral border area on Sunday killed 18 people and injured five others.

Pakistan had conducted intelligence-based, targeted attacks on seven terrorist camps and hideouts in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, following which more than 80 terrorists were killed in a series of suicide bombings.