CHAMAN – Unprovoked shelling by Afghan forces at census team in Chaman killed 12 citizens and wounded at least 40 Pakistanis, including children, women and FC Balochistan soldiers early Friday, local media reported.
The forces using both light and heavy arms began shelling at 4:00 am and the unprovoked fire by Afghan forces continued for over four hours.
Since 30th April, Afghan Border Police has been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Charnan area on Pakistani side of the border, read an ISPR statement.
It added, “This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census.”
Troops of Frontier Corps and Levies have taken their positions after reaching the area as soon as the heavy fire from across the border started.
Pakistani security forces effectively retaliated to the firing and shelling from Afghan side.
Mortar shells that hit two house in a village near Chaman border left one dead and seven, including three children injured.
The injured have been shifted to a district hospital for medical treatment, where two persons are in critical state and have been referred to Quetta. An emergency has been declared in the hospital, while leaves of doctors and staff have been suspended.
After the incident, Bab-e-Dosti at Pak-Afghan border has been closed for any kind of transportation, and trade activities have been suspended.
The diplomatic relations between two countries are not amicable as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday turned down Pakistan’s invitation to visit the country despite the visit of Pakistani parliamentarians and DG ISI.
During an interview with BBC, the president’s deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and to visit the country.
“I will not go to Pakistan until the perpetrators behind the attacks on Mazar-e-Sharif, the American University in Kabul and Kandahar, are handed over to Afghanistan,” the deputy spokesperson quoted Ghani as saying. He further said the Afghan president has also demanded action against Afghan Taliban present on Pakistan’s soil.
