ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday condemned the cross-border firing incident that the Pakistan military says a day earlier killed six people and injured 17, calling on Kabul to ensure such incidents are not repeated in future.
The military said six civilians were killed and over a dozen injured on Sunday due to unprovoked shelling by Afghan forces in Chaman in southwest Pakistan. The military said heavy artillery and mortar were used to target civilian populations.
Clashes between the security forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan have taken place numerous times since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Islamabad has asked the Taliban to rein in militants who attack Pakistani security forces from Afghanistan.
Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan through the main Chaman crossing remained closed for 8 days in November after a Pakistani Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldier was shot dead by an Afghan national on a gate at the border.
“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,” Sharif wrote on Twitter.
According to the Associated Press, Kandahar governor spokesperson Ataullah Zaid linked the clash with the construction of new checkpoints on the Afghan side of the border.
Zahid said one Taliban fighter was killed and 10 were wounded on Afghanistan’s side. Three civilians were also wounded, he added.
In a separate statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Sunday’s incident, saying that they were not in keeping with the brotherly ties between countries.
“The Afghan authorities have been informed that recurrence of such incidents must be avoided and strictest possible action must be taken against those responsible,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan said it is the responsibility of both countries to ensure the protection of 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 foreign office added.
Reacting to the incident on Sunday, Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban government, said authorities were investigating the clashes.
“We have a clear policy to resolve all issues between the two brotherly countries through peaceful means and diplomatic channels,” he said in an interview with a Pakistani TV channel.
After remaining briefly closed on Sunday, the Chaman border was reopened for trade on Monday.
Chaman in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province is one of the busiest border crossings, used by thousands of people on a daily basis to travel between the two neighboring countries.
