Pakistan lodges strong protest with Afghanistan over martyrdom of Major Ali Jawad Khan

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary on Wednesday called in Afghan Ambassador Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the martyrdom of Major Ali Jawad Khan, an officer of Pakistan Army, who was injured on June 13 due to unprovoked firing by Afghan security forces at Torkham border crossing. The Afghan government was urged to take immediate steps to bring this unprovoked firing to an end. The secretary stressed that the Pakistani side was undertaking construction works on its side to regulate the movements of people as well as vehicles with the prior agreement of the Afghan government. He expressed concern over the continued firing by the Afghan forces for last few days with a view to disrupt the construction works aimed at strengthening effective border management. He rejected allegations coming from Afghanistan that the construction works being undertaken by Pakistan were violation of the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries. It was reiterated that these works are being undertaken on Pakistani side and were started after the two sides had agreed on them during the meetings held last month. Underscoring the importance of border management for strengthening mutual security and checking infiltration of terrorists and militants, the secretary emphasized the need for resolving this issue through constructive engagement.