UPDATE - Key Pak-Afghan crossing closed after fresh border clash

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, QUOTES FROM AFGHAN OFFICIALS

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – A key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been closed after a fresh clash between the troops of the two neighboring countries, security officials said Friday.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s military, the Afghan border police opened fire at troops, who were providing security to the census staff in southwestern Chaman town, which borders southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

The Pakistan army responded effectively to the Afghan forces' firing, the statement said, adding that the Chaman border crossing has been closed following the attack.

Dr. Mohammad Akhtar, deputy administrator of Civil Hospital Chaman, told reporters that at least seven people were killed while 29 others were injured in the clash.

Earlier, it was reported citing Pakistan army’s statement that the "unprovoked firing” resulted in the death of a woman, and injuries to 18, including four paramilitary troops.

Meanwhile, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of initiating the attack, saying several civilians and border guards were wounded in the “ongoing clashes” in border region of Kandahar’s Spin Boldak district.

Gorzang Afridi, secretary of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Kandahar, told Anadolu Agency that the Afghan Border Police (ABP) had asked Pakistani officials three days ago not to conduct population census in Luqman and Nazar villages, close to the border.

“On Friday, at around 04.00 a.m. (1130GMT Thursday) the Pakistani militia forces started shooting and wished to forcefully go ahead with the census on our soil, but our border forces stopped them”, he said.

Like many villages and towns along a 2,640-kilometer (1,640-mile) long border between the two countries, Luqman and Nazar villages lying between Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak and Pakistan’s Chaman districts are disputed.

Samim Khpalwak, spokesman for the provincial government in Kandahar, said three personnel of Afghan border police got wounded in the incident.

He said additional troops have been sent to the area.

Khpalwak noted all movement of goods and passengers between the two countries via the bustling Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing point has been stopped.

Already tense ties between the two neighbors have hit a low ebb in recent months following terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, for which the two sides blame each other.

On Feb. 17, Pakistan unilaterally closed its border with Afghanistan, commonly known as the Durand Line, “due to security reasons” following a spate of terror attacks -- including a suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine in southern Pakistani town of Sehwan that left 90 people dead.

The border was reopened after a month in March.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 crossing points -- the most commonly used ones are Torkham and Chaman.

Afghanistan does not recognize the Durand Line which was established in 1893 in line with an agreement between India under British colonial rule, and Abdur Rahman Khan -- the then ruler of Afghanistan.

*Mohamed Shadi contributed to this story from Kabul, Afghanistan.