Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over killing of 4 soldiers in rocket fire

Pakistan on Sunday summoned Afghan ambassador and lodged protest over the killing of four soldiers in a rocket fire from the Afghan side of the border, officials said.

The military said rockets were fired on a border post in Khyber tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, killing four soldiers and injuring four others.

"The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Islamabad, Mr. Janan Mosazai, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The Ministry lodged a strong protest against the mortar shelling from Afghanistan in Khyber Agency this morning at around 0900 hrs, as a result of which four Pakistani soldiers embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) and four others were critically injured," the Foreign Ministry said.

"The Afghan Envoy was asked to urge his Government to investigate the incident and share the result of the inquiry with the Government of Pakistan," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

"Pakistan fully condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations and is willing to collaborate with Afghanistan to fight the common enemy. However, the attacks against our military personnel are unacceptable," the statement said.

The Afghan ambassador said he would convey the message to the concerned authorities and look into this. He expressed his condolences over killing of Pakistani soldiers, the Foreign Ministry said.