ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned what it described as 'unprovoked' cross-border firing by Afghan forces in South Waziristan, saying civilians, including children, were injured in the latest escalation along the frontier, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Office of the Spokesperson) said.
In a weekly press briefing, the spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, said Afghan forces carried out firing and shelling on April 26 and 29 in border areas of South Waziristan adjacent to Bannu district, including Angoor Adda, damaging homes and wounding several people, among them children aged 3, 8, and 10.
The ministry said residents and tribal elders had voiced concern over repeated incidents and demanded an immediate halt to cross-border attacks. It added that Islamabad had expressed 'strong condemnation' and was taking measures to assist affected families and ensure civilian safety.
Diplomatic engagement on ceasefire efforts
The Foreign Office said Pakistan had maintained “sustained engagement” with both Washington and Tehran over the past two weeks, supporting ceasefire efforts and dialogue aimed at de-escalation.
"Pakistan remains committed to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preference for principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy in addressing complex geopolitical challenges and managing complex disputes," said the spokesperson.
"Pakistan has maintained open channels of communication with the concerned parties", he added, highlighting a series of high-level engagements led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including multiple calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and consultations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye.
According to the briefing, Sharif’s recent visits to Riyadh, Doha, and Antalya focused on advancing regional peace efforts following a ceasefire between the US and Iran and talks hosted in Islamabad.
The ministry said Pakistan’s leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, remained engaged with key stakeholders to promote stability.
Separately, the Foreign Office said a European Union business delegation was visiting Pakistan and had held meetings with government officials and private sector representatives, with more than 600 business-to-business interactions expected on the sidelines of the EU-Pakistan Business Forum.
In the Middle East, Pakistan also joined international statements condemning Israeli actions, including the appointment of a representative to Somaliland and violations at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The briefing concluded with an update on President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing visit to China, describing it as part of continued high-level exchanges marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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