Afghan-Pakistani Team to Investigate Cross-Border Shelling

Posted August 15th, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC-5)
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The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to send a joint military delegation to investigate recent cross-border shellings that have raised tensions between the two neighbors.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari met Tuesday on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Mecca.

President Karzai's office said the Afghan leader asked Mr. Zardari to immediately stop attacks on Afghan soil, saying they have had an “extremely negative impact” on the two nations' friendship.

The Pakistani president's office said the two leaders were “unanimous in the view that all groups should shun violence and join the peace process in Afghanistan, for peace and stability of the region.”

Mr. Zardari promised to follow up on the rocket shelling with Afghanistan's military delegation as soon as possible.

Tuesday's meeting came the same day Afghan officials say an Afghan post came under fire from Pakistan. Local officials said one Afghan policeman was killed and five others wounded in the shelling attack.

Pakistan has denied deliberately targeting Afghan territory, saying Pakistani troops only engage militants from where they are attacked.