ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 28 (UPI) -- The Pakistani military has denied any intentional firing of artillery across the border into Afghanistan.
Last week, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was quoted as saying about 470 missiles from Pakistan had landed in Afghanistan's border provinces in the past three weeks, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people including children, Voice of America reported.
While denying any intentional firing, Pakistani Army spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas said some rounds may have gone across the border when Pakistani security forces were chasing away militants trying to attack Pakistani border posts.
"Militants have been attacking our check posts," Abbas said.
"So maybe when the militants were escaping back to the border, in engaging them a few rounds would have accidentally gone across. That possibility cannot be ruled out," he said.
Pakistan has long been seen as allowing militants to seek sanctuaries on its side of the border and the militants use them to launch attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. The military is now trying to resolve that, the report said.
The VOA report said Islamabad also has been saying the withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan is encouraging anti-Pakistani militants to attack Pakistan.
Karzai has warned there would be consequences if the artillery firings continue.
