6 killed, 17 injured as Afghan forces open fire on Pakistan’s Posts
There are reports of ongoing clashes between the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani military on the Durand Line that is Afghan-Pakistan border.
According to the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan said that Afghan border forces used artillery and mortar in the attack. At least six people were killed and 17 others were injured after Afghan border forces opened fire at a civilian area on Afghan Baluchistan border.
Baluchistan’s Chaman District Police Officer (DPO) Abdullah Ali Kasi said that the firing began after a mortar shell was fired into Pakistan Occupied Baluchistan territory. He also said that the injured were shifted to the district hospital except four, who were deemed “critically” injured and transferred to Quetta.
The ISPR said that Pakistan’s troops at the border gave a befitting albeit measured response against the uncalled-for aggression, but avoided targeting innocent civilians in the area.
Pakistan border forces also approached Afghan authorities in Kabul to highlight the severity of the situation and demanded strict action to avoid any such recurrence of the incident in the future, according to the ISPR.
An emergency was imposed in Quetta Civil Hospital on the directions of Health Secretary Saleh Muhammad Nasir.
Pakistan Occupied Baluchistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed concern over the incident. “I hope the Pakistan government will ensure an immediate and effective solution to this problem at the diplomatic level,” he said.
He ordered the district administration of Chaman to provide full support to the people affected, Dawn reported.
Last month, the Baluchistan Afghan border, also known as the “Friendship Gate” was closed after an armed man opened fire from the Afghan side, killing a Pakistani soldier. The incident left two security personnel injured and prompted the closure of the border between the two countries at Chaman, Baluchistan, Dawn reported quoting official sources.
Last month, the Baluchistan -Afghan border at Chaman was closed for an indefinite period after an armed man from the Afghan side opened fire on Pakistani security personnel at Friendship Gate, resulting in the martyrdom of one soldier and leaving two others wounded.
Following the incident, both sides exchanged fire for more than one hour, and the trade between the two countries got suspended, including the Afghan transit trade.
On November 22, Pakistan reopened borders with Afghanistan at Chaman after a week. The decision to reopen the border was taken at a meeting between Pakistani border authorities and Taliban officials, reported Dawn.
On Nov 25, the Foreign Office (FO) said Pakistan was holding discussions to sort out issues in light of the increase in cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.
As per Afghanistan newspapers, least four people died and 20 others were injured after a mortar landed near Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak gate, Tolo News reported citing sources.
Spin Boldak is a border town in the southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan and next to the border with Pakistan.
Taking to Twitter, Tolo News informed, “At least four people were killed and 20 others were wounded after a mortar landed near Spin Boldak gate, a source told TOLO news. The clashes are still ongoing between the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani military, according to the source.”
In reply to the previous tweet, TOLO News added that the videos showed the injured being taken to the hospital at Chaman crossing, across the Durand Line.
