Local residents have accused Pakistani soldiers of targetting civilian houses in the Tani district of Afghanistan’s Khost late Thursday as fighting continued on the country’s border with Pakistan.
According to sources, many local residents have started leaving their homes to escape the violence while casualties were also reported from the region, Afghanistan’s leading news agency Khaama Press reported. However, no verified death or injury had been confirmed so far.
Meanwhile, clashes were also reported in Gurbuz district of Khost, Khaama Press reported. The latest fighting incident comes as tensions have escalated tremendously between Islamabad and Kabul over the past few months due to the Pakistani airstrikes, which caused deaths of people in war-torn Afghanistan.
The violence comes despite ongoing talks between officials of Pakistan and Taliban in China, where both sides are trying to ease tensions and discuss a possible ceasefire. However, continued fighting on the ground has raised doubts about whether diplomacy can end the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
On Tuesday, participants at a ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Jirga’ organised in Peshawar urged governments of both countries to stop the border clashes and resolve their differences through dialogue.
Organised under the auspices of a think-tank Aspire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and National Reform Movement (Qaumi Islahi Tehreek), various political, religious leaders, representatives of business community and media attended the jirga, Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn reported.
They urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to use diplomatic channels to resolve their differences as both nations share common religious and cultural heritage, traditions and social values. They said that the ongoing conflict was a matter of concern for people of both nations and stressed that the current tense situation would lead to dire consequences for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
After the discussion at the jirga, the participants issued a joint declaration and urged both nations to immediately declare and implement a ceasefire to de-escalate tensions.
“Agree, in accordance with universally accepted international principles, that their respective territories will neither be used against each other nor be allowed to be used for any such activities. Ensure implementation of this consensus with full state authority and capacity,” the Jirga stated urging both nations to resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy while highlighting that war was not a solution to any problem and there was no greater guarantee for sustainable peace than mutual respect and understanding.
–IANS
