Civilians wounded as fighting erupts at Pakistan-Afghan border

No less than 16 Pakistanis injured within the metropolis of Chaman, medical official says, as border forces conflict for the second time in per week.

Pakistani and Taliban flags flutter on their respective sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border at a key crossing in Chaman, Pakistan [File: Jafar Khan/AP]

Islamabad, Pakistan – No less than 16 Pakistani civilians have been wounded as combating broke out between Pakistani and Afghan border forces for the second time in lower than per week, a Pakistani medical official says.

An emergency was declared on Thursday on the predominant hospital within the Pakistani metropolis of Chaman after heavy artillery firing began round noon (07:00 GMT) close to the Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing, Dr Akhtar Mohammed, an official on the hospital, informed Al Jazeera.

“4 civilians have been in crucial situation, they usually have been despatched to Quetta for additional therapy,” he mentioned, including that two youngsters have been among the many wounded. “No lifeless our bodies have been dropped at hospital to this point.”

Pakistani navy officers alleged “indiscriminate firing” was directed from the Afghan aspect of the border in direction of civilian areas of Chaman.

Chaman authorities informed Al Jazeera that markets close to the border have shut down and a tense calm has fallen over town.

The Afghan Ministry of Defence alleged that Pakistani forces had opened hearth first.

In a press release on Twitter, the ministry mentioned the Kabul authorities believes dialogue is the way in which ahead.

No less than 9 Pakistani civilians have been killed on Sunday in a skirmish between the 2 international locations close to the identical border crossing, which connects Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan to Afghanistan’s southeastern Kandahar province.

The Pakistani navy accused the Afghan authorities of opening “unprovoked and indiscriminate” hearth.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khwaja Mohammed Asif informed parliament on Monday that Afghan authorities had “apologised” for Sunday’s incident and mentioned it wouldn’t be repeated.

Asif had alleged that a “provocation was began by Afghanistan” when Pakistan’s border forces have been repairing the border fence.

Kabul additionally mentioned any repetition of Sunday’s incident could be “regrettable”.

The Chaman border crossing is sort of 120km (74 miles) northwest of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. It is likely one of the busiest crossings between the 2 international locations and a key commerce route.

The border was closed for per week final month when a Pakistani safety official was shot lifeless there by an unknown gunman.

Because the Afghan Taliban took over Afghanistan in August final yr, relations between the 2 neighbours have been tense.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring the armed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban.