ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign ministry said on Sunday militants based in Afghanistan had intensified their activities and targeted its security personnel in the last couple of days despite Islamabad's repeated requests to Kabul to secure the border regions.
The ministry issued the statement after Afghan authorities blamed Pakistani military of launching pre-dawn attacks in its territories which, they said, had claimed the lives of several civilians.
Afghan interim foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also summoned Pakistan's envoy in Kabul to officially protest the "military violations."
"In the last few days, incidents along Pak-Afghan Border have significantly increased, wherein, Pakistani security forces are being targeted from across the border," said foreign office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar in a statement. "Pakistan has repeatedly requested Afghan Government in last few months to secure Pak-Afghan border region. Terrorists are using Afghan soil with impunity to carry out activities inside Pakistan."
He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had been engaged for the past several months through institutional channels for effective coordination and security along their shared border.
"Unfortunately, elements of banned terrorist groups in the border region, including TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], have continued to attack Pakistan's border security posts, resulting into martyrdom of several Pakistani troops," he added.
Iftikhar condemned militant attacks launched from Afghan soil, saying they were detrimental to his country's efforts to maintain peace and stability along the border.
He requested "the sovereign Government of Afghanistan" to secure the border region and take stern actions against individuals on the Afghan side involved in militant activities in Pakistan.
"Pakistan also takes this opportunity to reaffirm respect for Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," he continued. "Pakistan will continue to work closely with Afghan Government to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields."
