Three mortar shells fired from Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: Three mortar shells were fired from Afghanistan on Saturday which fell near the Pak-Afghan border. According to sources, the mortar shells landed in Lowai Shalman area of the Landikotal Tehsil of the Khyber Agency. No casualty was reported in the incident. Meanwhile, a curfew was imposed on main Pak-Afghan Highway from Jamrud to Torkham apparently due to a cleanup operation launched by security forces. Military sources said security forces were carrying out sanitisation of the area along the Jamrud-Torkham Road in the Khyber tribal region which was why curfew had been imposed and it would be lifted at 5 pm. Although, some sources said the border had been sealed on account of the second phase of the Afghan presidential polls today to avoid any untoward incident. Separately, security forces and militants clashed in Khyber tribal region’s Bakarabad area during a search operation. In another incident in Bara Qamberabad area of Khyber, peace committee member Rafiq Khan Orakzai was killed in an explosion caused by a remote controlled blast. Pakistan boosts security along Pak-Afghan border Additional troops have been deployed on the Pak-Afghan border to reinforce existing security arrangements for conduct of peaceful presidential elections in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. A number of measures have been taken for the purpose after due deliberation and coordination with Afghan security forces. While ensuring that a smooth flow of voters move, checking by immigration staff at crossing points has been enhanced and patrolling has been increased in areas close to the border. Strict checking measures are being employed on routes from mainland leading towards border areas, the spokesman said. Communication at Border Coordination Centres on both sides has also been enhanced and a hotline contact has been established between the two Military Operations directorates. Additionally, aerial surveillance is also being carried out to check any untoward cross border movement. Moreover, the Foreign Office has termed the second phase of the Afghan presidential elections a milestone in what it called the country’s democratic journey. "We reiterate that these elections are an Afghan affair, with the Afghan electoral institutions in the lead. They bear a heavy responsibility, and we wish them well in accomplishing their task successfully,” FO spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told Dawn. “We also hope that the voters would once again demonstrate their firm resolve and exercise their right to determine their future through democratic means, in an optimal way,” she said. Aslam said that for its part Pakistan remains committed to supporting all efforts for a free and peaceful electoral process in Afghanistan. Mateen Haider contributed to reporting