KABUL - A number of Meshrano Jirga or upper house members on Tuesday termed Pakistan forces’ attacks on Zazai Maidan district of Khost province and parts of Kunar province a blatant violation, asking the government to equip the people of the attacked areas with weapons for defense.
According to local officials, Pakistani militiamen and forces sneaked into ZazaiMaidan district on last Saturday and they were trying to build a security post there, but faced with local people and Afghan forces’ reaction.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Monday said 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 17 others wounded in the border clash. It said two civilians of Zazai Miadan district were also killed in the battle.
In addition, Pakistani forces consecutively fire rockets from across the Durand Line to parts of Kunar province.
Mohammad Hasham Alokozay, a senator from southern Helmand province, talking to today’s meeting of Meshrano Jirga, denounced Pakistani forces attack on Zazai Maidan district of Khost province and called it a blatant aggression.
Fawzia Sadat, another senator, said, “Pakistan’s assault on the Afghan soil is a violation of all international laws, Afghans are ready to defend their territory,”
She asked the government to empower and equip Afghan security forces and talk to Pakistani through diplomatic channels for solving the issue. The Pakistan aggression should be formally complained in the United Nations.
Latif Zhwandai, representing Khost people in the upper house, appreciated the people and Afghan forces for defending Zazai Maidan district, asking the government to equip local residents with weapons so they would be able to stand against further violations of Pakistani forces.
Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, Meshrano Jirga chairman, hailed the local people and Afghan forces standing against Pakistani forces’ attacks and said, “If Pakistan has any (ominous) plans, we also should be prepared, our people in Mohammad Zahir Shah era also protected the border districts,”
He said that the people of border districts should be equipped and work under the framework of border forces to defend the country’s territory.
Muslimayar and a number of other members of Meshrano Jirga asked the international community to stop Pakistan’s violation against Afghanistan. the United States should also equip Afghan forces with advanced weapons following the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).
Based on the agreement, the Afghan government and United States would jointly take action against any serious threats posed to Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)