Pakistan on Monday expressed serious concern to a visiting top U.S. diplomat over recent militant incursions from across the border with Afghanistan into Pakistan that led to loss of innocent lives, Xinhua reported.
Pakistan said that armed militants made at least four incursions into Pakistani territories, attacking checkposts and villages and killing soldiers and civilians.
Pakistani Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, while talking to U.S. Deputy Special Representative Frank Ruggiero, underscored the need for effective measures to prevent such incursions, the Foreign Ministry said.
The Afghan process of peace and reconciliation was discussed and Frank Ruggiero underscored the importance of the Core Group composed of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the U.S. in the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation and peace.
The minister underscored the importance of clarity and strategic coherence as well as transparency to facilitate the Afghan people and the Afghan government in the process for peace and reconciliation.
It was agreed that the Pakistan-U.S. relations were on track and that enhanced interaction between the two sides at several levels greatly facilitated better understanding of each other's point of view.
Pakistan summoned Afghan envoys on two occasions and a strong protest was launched over a recent incursion of militants into its territory.
Pakistani officials said it is the fourth incursion of militants into its territories from Afghanistan within a month. The previous intrusions took place in Upper Dir, South Waziristan and Kurram Agency.
Pakistan also raised the issue with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who traveled to Pakistan on June 10 to 11. Karzai said it is the responsibility of his government to stop attacks if it happens from Afghan soil.