Summary According to the locals, cellular services are unaffected however, 3G service is not functioning
TORKHAM (Dunya News) – Army has barred movement beyond Machni checkpost in light of threat to lives of the civilians at Torkham border owing to unprovoked Afghan firing since Sunday night, reported Wednesday.
Tension at Pakistan-Afghanistan border is persisting however, firing stopped after 10:00pm last night. Another two security personnel are said to have been injured in the crossfire taking the toll to over 15 and one casualty, martyr Major Ali Jawad.
According to the locals, security forces had advised them to turn off lights at houses because chances were Afghan forces would target the lit spots last night.
Pakistani forces retaliated to Afghan aggression last night and reportedly, clouds of smoke covered Shamshad, Gumurg and Sheraz Qilla areas of the neighbouring country.
Political administration advised locals in Landi Kotal area, using megaphones, to not step outside their houses.
According to the locals, cellular services are unaffected however, 3G service is not functioning.
Afghanistan had resorted to firing and shelling against Pakistan citing construction of a gate at the border. Inter-Services Public Relations reported that the gate was within Pakistani territory and was being constructed to curb cross-border movement of operatives of banned outfits.
Afghanistan had earlier disputed fencing of the border as well as according to Ashraf Ghani-led government, it is against an agreement between the two neighbours.
A Major named Ali Jawad succumbed to injuries from Afghan shelling on Tuesday while under treatment at a hospital. Sources stated that he was inspecting artillery when he was injured.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif attended funeral prayer of the martyr and served as a pallbearer.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a statement said that late Ali Jawad’s sacrifice would not go in vain. He embraced martyrdom while defending his country, he acknowledged.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that revenge shall be taken over the martyrdom of Major Ali Jawad Changezi.
In a message posted on a social media website, Asif stated that enemies of Pakistan want it to lose the progress made in war on terror in Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
In the recent past, evidence collected at different targeted sites in Peshawar and other cities suggested that terrorists crossed border from Afghanistan to enter Pakistan.
Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had stated after Charsadda’s Bacha Khan University was attacked in January that attackers belonged to Afghanistan. He urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to raise the issue with Afghanistan government.
Earlier this week, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that terrorists from Afghanistan take shelter in camps set up by Pakistan for Afghan refugees.
Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees despite difficulties, he added.
