Pakistani forces firing artillery shells into two districts of eastern Nangarhar province late last week, causing financial losses to local residents, officials said on Monday.
The shells were recently fired into Lalpura and Goshta districts, Nangarhar police chief Maj. Gen. Fazal Ahmad Sherzad told Pajhwok Afghan News.“We have shared the issue with the Ministry of Interior,” he said.
The provincial council chief, Ahmad Ali Hazrat, said by firing artillery rounds into Nangarhar, the Pakistani forces had showed they did not want peace in Afghanistan.
He claimed the Pakistani forces wanted to keep the Afghan forces busy in Lalapura and Goshta districts after insurgents were defeated in the Shinwari zone.
Lawmaker and resident of Goshta district, Faridoon Khan Momand, said the Pakistani forces had been firing into Nazarkhel area of Goshta district over the past few days in order to sabotage the peace process.
“As the second round of peace talks is nearing, the Pakistani army’s attack on the Afghan territory shows the military is against peace or all powers rest with it,” he said.
Governor Saleem Khan Kunduzi confirmed the shelling, saying they had informed the central government about it.
To a query if Afghan forces would resort to a tat-for-tit response, the governor said “Pakistan is our neighbor and we have embassies in each other countries, so we can share many issues through our foreign ministries.”
By Zeerak Fahim
