ISLAMABAD, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Both the Pakistani government and army have rejected that recent drone attacks allegedly conducted by the United States targeted Pakistani territories, adding that the targets were in Afghanistan.
No drone strikes have taken place in Kurram Agency in northwestern Pakistan, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said late Tuesday in a statement, adding that there has been no airspace violation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in that area.
"Military operations are being conducted in Khost and Paktia, Afghanistan by Resolute Support Mission (RSM) and Afghan forces, opposite Kurram Agency. During the last 24 hours, a number of air engagements have taken place in those areas inside Afghanistan with reports of heavy losses to terrorists," the ISPR said.
Local reports said that three drone attacks took place in the bordering area between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past 24 hours and about 31 people were killed and many injured. The reports quoted local officials in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram Agency that last night's strike was located in the agency in Pakistan.
The ISPR said that the operations were a follow up of Pakistani army chief's visit to Afghanistan, which has enhanced coordination between the forces, adding that RSM timely shared details about the said operation within Afghan territory to Pakistan.
"A better security coordination will take both countries towards enduring peace and stability defeating the common enemy," the statement added.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif urged the United States to limit its drone attacks when relevant countries are trying to revive the negotiation between the Afghan government and Taliban.
He also said that the drone strikes in Pak-Afghan border are not in the Pakistani territories, adding that border between Pakistan and Afghanistan are not well defined.
Local reports said that the attack targeted militant houses and a key militant commander was among the killed.
