Monday, February 20, 2017
Kabul (BNA) Chief Executive (CE) Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said on Sunday efforts had been launched to prevent Pakistani attacks on eastern provinces.
Dr. Abdullah’s remarks come as Pakistan has resumed firing mortar and artillery shells into border districts of Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, inflicting casualties on civilians. The shelling has also displaced hundreds of families. A statement from the CE Secretariat said Dr. Abdullah met a number of tribal elders and influential figures from the two provinces. Participants, residents and elders of Kunar briefed Dr. Abdullah on the security situation in the province and recent rocket attacks from Pakistan, asking for an immediate halt to the strikes. They also sought the prevention of Daesh militants from stealing into the province. They said Daesh fighters had attacked a public order police check-post in Chapa Dara district, killing six personnel. Kunar residents voiced their concerns about the expanding foothold of Daesh in the province, urging the government to launch a crackdown on the dreaded outfit.
Abdullah thanked Kunar residents for supporting their own security forces, saying the government had initiated efforts to stop the rocket attacks. The chief of army staff was in Nangarhar, closely tracking the issue. The CE promised reforms and other necessary steps to curb Daesh activities in the province. The ongoing year would be problematic in terms of security; but Afghan forces had complete preparedness, he concluded.
