More Gunfire at Pakistan-Afghan Border, Afghan Soldier Killed

The skirmish began when Pakistan placed a gate at Torkham to curb the illegal movement across the border.

Cross-border firing carried on at the Pakistani-Afghan border on Wednesday, killing an Afghan border guard and wounding five others.

Pakistan also summoned the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and lodged “strong protest” over the killing of Major Ali Jawad Khan.

Major Jawad, a senior Pakistan army officer succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, a day after he was wounded in a gun battle with the Afghan forces over the contentious fencing issue at the north-western Torkham border crossing.

Two Afghan policemen were also killed and 18 Pakistanis were injured in the cross-border firing.

Following the gunfire exchange, a curfew was imposed near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border point on Monday.

Due to the tense situation, all transportation was banned. Residents of the area have begun moving to safer places, security sources told Geo News.

The skirmish began when Pakistan constructed a gate at Torkham in a bid to stem the illegal flow of people across the border.

Afghan forces allegedly began unprovoked firing. In the retaliatory firing by the Pakistani security forces, an Afghan check-post caught fire.

The injured were shifted to Landikotal hospital. According to the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations, several militants were found crossing the Torkham border recently.

At about 9.20 am tonight (Sunday) Afghan Security forces resorted to unprovoked firing on Pakistani side at Torkham Gate. A Pakistani soldier was injured due to Afghan firing.

ISPR Statement