CHAMAN: Bab-e-Dosti gate between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday, after Afghan forces opened fire on Frontier Corps Balochistan soldiers a day earlier killing at least 11 and injuring several others.
This however won’t effect the Torkham border in the Khyber Agency, which will remain open for trade and other activities.
On Friday, the Chaman border was closed for an indefinite period after 11 were martyred and 46 injured early Friday as a result of firing from Afghan border forces. The Afghan border forces opened fire on Frontier Corps Balochistan soldiers deployed for security of census team near the Chaman border.
According to the ISPR, a hotline contact between Pakistan and Afghan Director General Military Operations was established later in the day. During the conversation, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Pakistan Army Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza condemned unprovoked firing on Pakistani villagers and security forces which caused casualties.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria also expressed his concerns over the unprovoked firing by Afghan forces. In his weekly briefing, Zakaria said the FO has serious concerns over the incident. The census team was performing its duty when the firing started, he said.
The spokesperson also said that Afghanistan had been informed of the census activity before, which makes this matter even more disappointing. He also said that Pakistan has the right to retaliate, adding that a negative role by India was creating issues in Afghanistan.
The injured were taken to the district hospital, where two critically injured persons were referred to Quetta, where emergency has been imposed at hospitals.
The doctors and paramedics at Bolan Medical Complex have been alerted, while additional staff was called for Quetta Civil Hospital.
However, there was a lack of ambulances in Chaman, where casualties are likely to increase.
