Mortars from Afghanistan hit Pakistan

Oct 26, 2011, 14:22 GMT

Islamabad - At least half a dozen mortars fired Wednesday from Afghanistan landed in a residential area in north-western Pakistan, killing one person and injuring two girls, government officials said.

The mortars were fired from Kunar province in Afghanistan and targeted Bajour, one of seven tribal districts in Pakistan's border areas. 'One of the mortars struck the house of a tribal elder, who was killed,' an intelligence official said on condition of anonymity.

He said two girls were also injured in another house hit by the shells.

It was not clear whether the mortars were fired by the Afghan army or militant Taliban forces. The Taliban are allegedly hiding in Kunar and the neighbouring province of Nuristan after escaping Pakistan military operation in the border regions.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained as both have traded accusations in recent months about unprovoked firing across the porous mountainous border, which is unmarked at several places.

The two neighbours have also accused each other of allowing safe havens from where militants can launch cross border attacks.

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