Afghan border forces on Friday opened fire on Pakistani security personnel guarding a census team in a border town of the restive Balochistan province, killing nine people and injuring 45 others, the latest escalation of tensions between the two countries. The Afghan border forces started shelling at Kali luqman and Kali Jahangir areas in the border town of Chaman early this morning targeting security personnel guarding a census team, Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said.
Five children and three women were among those killed, while four Frontier Corps personnel are among the 45 injured, officials said. The Pakistani army said the Afghan border guards’ opened fire despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed in advance about the census exercise in Pakistan.
“Since April 30, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in the conduct of census in divided villages of Killi luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border,” military’s media wing said.