Kabul summons Pakistani envoy over airstrikes in Khost, Paktika

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul over recent predawn airstrikes in Khost and Paktika provinces and handed him a demarche.

Islamic Emirate chief spokesman  Zabihullah Mujahi said this afternoon that Pakistani jets bombed the houses of ordinary people in Paktika’s Barmal district and Khost’s Spera district, killing eight civilians including women and children

MoFA in a press release said the head of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul was summoned and handed over a protest letter over the strikes.

The ministry condemned the attacks and warned such aggression was intolerable, asking the new civil government and the people of Pakistan not to allow some circles to spoil relations between the two Muslim neighboring countries with irresponsible actions and wrong policies.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense said Afghan border forces hit Pakistani military positions with heavy weapons in response to the airstrikes.

The diplomatic engagement follows a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. Muttaqi expressed a desire for improved bilateral relations and extended an invitation to Dar to visit Kabul.

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