Kabul protests Pakistan actions in border clash
Source: Reuters
KABUL, May 14 (Reuters) - Afghanistan condemned what it called an "invasion" of part of its border area by neighbouring Pakistan on Monday and said such actions could have dangerous consequences for the region's stability. A strongly worded statement from the Afghan foreign ministry highlighted the deteriorating relationship between the two Asian states, whose troops clashed in the southeastern Paktia province on Sunday in the worst fighting between the uneasy neighbours in decades. "The ... Afghan foreign ministry considers this intention of Pakistan contrary to all international norms, good neighbourliness and against Pakistan's commitments during the summit between the presidents of the two countries in Ankara," the statement said. Afghanistan "strongly urges Pakistan to prevent such action that would entail dangerous consequences for the stability of the region," it said. After months of trading accusations over the Taliban insurgency, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met two weeks ago in Turkey and agreed to step up security cooperation. Their first meeting in months, it followed 18 months of deteriorating ties between the two countries. Kabul says Islamabad is not doing enough to curb Taliban insurgents operating from Pakistani territory on the disputed border. Pakistan denies it. The ministry's statement said Pakistani troops had "invaded" areas of Paktia province in the last two days, resulting in 13 Afghan deaths. In a separate statement, the ministry said Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta -- who was removed from office by parliament at the weekend but is still working until a court ruling -- had sent a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to protest "the attacks of Pakistani forces".
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