CHAMAN: Bab-e-Dosti and educational institutions on Saturday remained closed for the second day after the Afghan Border Police (ABP) opened unprovoked firing on Frontier Corps (FC) personnel appointed for security of population census team in Balochistan’s Chaman area early Friday. Panic among locals is still prevail in boarding area as people could not still start routine work due to fear of opening of fire again from Afghan side.
Population census remained suspended in Killi Luqman and Killi Jehangir areas of border towns on Saturday.
19 Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) trucks reached the site to aid those affected by the attack.
Security is on high alert in the area as fresh contingents of Pakistan Army have been deployed at the border with tanks and artillery. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is also ready to respond to any aggression by Afghan forces.
At least ten people including three children and two women were killed by Afghan forces’ unprovoked firing near the major border crossing where Pakistani census officials were carrying out a count.
Also, 46 others were injured in the firing and shelling, including FC officers who were deployed for security of census officials. Afghan authorities were informed prior to the population census.
Pakistan’s military said Afghan border police had been “creating hurdles” since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.
Two Afghan vehicles and three check posts were destroyed by Pakistan Army in retaliation, and several Afghan officials were killed as well.
Reports from the area said some of the Afghan soldiers ran away and hid themselves in the homes of locals.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires to protest at this unprovoked firing. The Pak-Afghan Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) also communicated through the hotline in which Pakistan made it quite clear to Afghanistan that no such incidents would be tolerated at the border, and Pakistan forces would respond with full strength.
There is ceasefire at the Pak-Afghan border after the communication between both DGMOs.
INP