In yet another sign of Islamabad’s disregard for diplomacy, the Pakistani Army allegedly opened fire into Afghan territory on Thursday, even as peace delegations from both countries met in Turkey to resume negotiations aimed at stabilising their fragile ceasefire.
According to Afghan officials, Pakistan used both “light and heavy weapons” and deliberately targeted “civilian areas.” “Pakistan used light and heavy weapons and targeted civilian areas," an Afghan military official told AFP.
The official added that Afghanistan has “not retaliated yet, out of respect for the ongoing negotiations.”
The shelling came as negotiators from Afghanistan and Pakistan reconvened in Turkey in a bid to prevent renewed hostilities after their worst cross-border clashes in years.
Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated sharply, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering militant groups that launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban government in Afghanistan has strongly denied these claims, saying that Pakistan is attempting to shift blame for its own internal security failures.
Kabul, on the other hand, has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring and supporting an offshoot of the Islamic State (ISIS) that carries out deadly strikes inside Afghanistan. Afghan officials say this pattern reflects Islamabad’s long-standing policy of using terror groups as tools of regional influence -- a policy that continues to undermine peace and stability in the region.
The latest incident is being seen as a major setback for already tense bilateral ties and raises questions about Pakistan’s willingness to uphold diplomatic commitments even while sitting at the negotiation table.
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