Story highlights:

• Six civilians were killed and 17 injured in Afghan shelling in Chaman
• Pakistan-Afghanistan border opened after briefly closed
• Balochistan CM Bizenjo directs administration to provide full support to affected citizens
• Home Minister Langau says flag meeting should be held soon
• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asks Afghan Interim government to ensure that such incidents were not repeated

Pakistan has condemned the “unprovoked and indiscriminate” Afghan shelling near a market in Chaman, Balochistan that killed at least six people and injured 17 others.

“Such unfortunate incidents are not in keeping with the brotherly ties between the two countries,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. It added that the Afghan authorities have been informed that recurrence of such incidents “must be avoided and strictest possible action must be taken” against those responsible.

“It remains the responsibility of both sides to protect civilians along the border. The concerned authorities of both countries remain in contact to ensure that there is no further escalation of the situation and recurrence of such incidents is avoided,” the FO said.

At least one minor was among the deceased, former medical superintendent of district headquarters hospital (DHQ) Dr Akhtar told Aaj News.

Akhtar, who is also among the staff looking after the casualties, added that six people passed away at the DHQ. Critically injured people were referred to the Quetta Trauma Centre. The hospital administration has declared an emergency in the hospital.

The Chaman border, also known as the Friendship Gate (FS), was opened for traffic after negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces. It was briefly closed for trade and movement of people following the incident.

Pakistan approached Afghan authorities

“Afghan Border Forces opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire of heavy weapons including artillery/mortar onto the civilian population in Chaman, Balochistan,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement received at 7:14pm.

At least six people were killed and 17 others injured, it said, adding: “Pakistani border troops have given befitting albeit measured response against the uncalled for aggression, but avoided targeting innocent civilians in the area.”

The ISPR said that Pakistan has also approached Afghan authorities in Kabul to highlight the severity of the situation and demanded strict action to obviate any such recurrence of the incident in the future.

Afghan security sources said the clash started after Pakistani forces demanded Afghan forces stop building a new checkpost on their side of the border, Reuters reported.

Kandahar police spokesman Hafiz Saber said one Afghan soldier was killed and 10 other people, including three civilians, were injured. Afghan official Noor Ahmad, in Kandahar, told Reuters the situation had returned to normal after the two sides held a meeting.

“A mortar shell landed and caused a huge fireball. After that I lost consciousness and don’t know what happened,” said Fida Muhammad, who was wounded in Chaman and taken to hospital, told AFP.

‘Land dispute’

Sources said that for the past four to five days there was a dispute on the Killi Shaikh Lal Muhammad land, which is on the Pakistani side of the border, between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The shelling started after there was a heated exchange of arguments between the people of the two sides, they added.

The situation was still tense in the city as the use of heavy weapons and explosions were still heard in the city.

Video footage showed that the Afghan security forces targeted Guldar Baghicha, the local population of Chaman.

Condemnation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and asked the Afghan Interim government to ensure that such incidents were not repeated.

“Unprovoked shelling & fire by Afghan Border Forces at Chaman resulting in martyrdom of several Pakistani citizens & injuring more than a dozen is unfortunate & deserves the strongest condemnation,” he said in a tweet.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudous Bizenjo has expressed his concern over the “cross-border” firing and shelling in Pak-Afghan Chaman. He was grieved over the death and injuries of civilians in the attack.

“It is hoped that the federal government will ensure an immediate and effective solution to this problem at the diplomatic level,” he said.

The Balochistan chief minister directed the district administration to provide full support to the affected citizens. He further ordered civil defence organizations to provide assistance and guidance to citizens in emergency situations.

Bizenjo also directed the health secretary to implement emergency in the hospitals of Quetta and transfer the injured to the provincial capital immediately. He expressed condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and prayed for their speedy recovery of the injured people.

On the directives of Balochistan Health Secretary Saleh Muhammad Nasir, the medical superintendent has declared an emergency in the Quetta Civil Hospital. All doctors, medical staff, and hospital administration were present in the general operation theater, emergency operation theater, and Casualty Department.

Home Minister Ziaullah Langau was also grieved over the death of the people. “Afghan authorities should arrest the attacker and hand him over to Pakistan. A flag meeting should be held at Kabul and Islamabad level soon,” he said.

He stressed that effective border management was indispensable for maintaining peace, counter-terrorism and improving bilateral relations. “May Allah raise the ranks of martyred people and may the injured get a speedy and complete recovery,” Langau prayed.

When Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar visited Afghanistan last month, she discussed security issues and economic cooperation in wide-ranging talks with the Taliban leadership. She had met them amid apparent mistrust over certain issues, including firing exchanges along the border and a spike in Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan attacks.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to continue talks after the Kurram border skirmishes in which a soldier of the Pakistan Army lost his life and nine others were injured.

In a tweet, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the incident of firing and rocket fire on the Pak-Afghan border was very worrying.

“The news that Pakistani citizens have been killed is extremely distressing. Details regarding the incident are being collected. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured, the Balochistan government has been requested to provide full support and assistance to the affected citizens.”

Former president Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the incident and prayed for the departed souls.

“Peace policy of Pakistan forces in the region should not be considered a weakness,” he said in a statement shared by the PPP on Twitter.