ISPR says ‘measured response’ given to uncalled-for aggression, which injured 16
Kandahar official says one security man killed, 13 injured on Afghan sidFO says such incidents not ‘in keeping with brotherly ties ’Shelling by Afghan forces kills seven at Chaman Border crossing closed for a few hours
QUETTA:
which came under heavy gunfire and artillery shelling by Afghan border forces, the military’s media wing said.
Pakistani troops retaliated against the “unprovoked and indiscriminate” fire,
the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement, without giving details of any losses on the other side.
The ISPR described the incident as “uncalled-for aggression” and said Pakistani
It said Pakistani authorities had approached their counterparts in Kabul to highlight
the “severity” of the situation, demanding strict action to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Shelling by Afghan forces kills seven at Chaman
The Foreign Office condemned the shelling, saying “such unfortunate incidents are
not in keeping with the brotherly ties between the two countries”.
“The Afghan authorities have been informed that recurrence of such incidents must
be avoided and strictest possible action must be taken against those responsible,” it said in a statement.
The FO said authorities in both countries remained in contact to ensure there was no escalation of the situation.
Officials said the exchange of fire took place between Pakistani and Afghan troops
which resulted in the closing of the Friendship Gate at the Chaman border crossing. targeting
Some mortar shells landed on a road leading to the border area and the Nato market.
In Afghanistan
appeared to link the clashes with the construction of new checkpoints on the Afghan side of the border, the AP news agency reported.
Incident ‘accidental’
Videos received from Chaman city showed a cloud of dust after a shell fell on the border road near the city, according to the BBC Urdu service.
A person could be heard saying the mortar had just landed.
He said one of them fell on the hotel in which three people were killed.
Zahid Saleem, additional chief secretary for Balochistan’s home and tribal affairs,
Dr. Rasheed Tareen, deputy medical superintendent at the Chaman district hospital,
told Dawn the hospital had received six bodies that received splinters of mortars and artillery shells.
Of the injured, seven were in critical condition, he said, adding: “We are referring the critically wounded to Quetta.”
who spoke to Reuters from Kandahar, the province on the Afghan side of the border.
Mr. Ahmad said the incident was “accidental” and the situation had returned to normal after the two sides had a meeting.
Officials condemn attack
Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo expressed concern over the incident.
“I hope the federal government will ensure an immediate and effective solution to this problem at the diplomatic level.”
He ordered the district administration of Chaman to provide full support to the people affected.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah condemned the attack and requested
the Balochistan government to provide full support and assistance to the affected citizens.
Pak-Afghan Chaman border,” he said on Twitter,
adding that news about the deaths of Pakistani citizens was “extremely painful and saddening”. Shelling by Afghan forces kills seven at Chaman