CHAMAN/RAWALPINDI, May 5: At least 11 Pakistani civilians were martyred and 46 others injured as Afghan border police opened fire on security personnel guarding a census team in Balochistan’s Chaman area on Friday. Four FC personnel are also included in the injured persons. Three children and two women are also included in the martyred persons. The injured persons have been shifted in District Headquarters Hospital Chaman. Emergency was also declared in all the hospitals of Chaman. However nine seriously injured persons have been shifted in Quetta.
Deputy Medical Superintendent at Civil Hospital Dr Akhtar confirmed ten civilians had died and 46 had been injured as a result of the firing and shelling.
Deputy Commissioner Qaiser Khan earlier said a woman was killed when a mortar shell fell on her house.
He also said all schools in the locale had been closed for an indefinite period. He advised residents to avoid going to the rooftops of their houses, as the firing was still ongoing.
Pakistani security forces effectively responded to the firing and shelling from the Afghan side.
Large contingents of FC and Levies reached the area as soon as the vicinity came under heavy fire from across the border.
Chaman shares a border with the Afghan province of Kandahar and is home to a busy international border crossing between the two countries. The Chaman border crossing was closed following the incident.
According to ISPR, Afghan Border Police opens fire on FC detailed for security of Population Census team. One civilian shaheed, 18 individuals including four FC Balochistan soldiers injured.
According to ISPR, since 30th April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Charnan area on Pakistani side of the border. This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census. Chaman crossing closed.
Reportedly, the Afghan forces targeted Pakistani check posts with light and heavy weapons at around 4:00 am. Some mortar shells fell on nearby homes, injuring seven persons including three children who were swiftly moved to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).
Pakistani security forces also effectively retaliated to Afghan aggression.
Emergency was declared in the vicinity while people living the bordering villages were instructed to move to safer locations.
Soon after the incident, Pakistani security forces shut Bab-e-Dosti and blocked main road in Garang area. Moreover, the important routes in the areas have been closed, while the vehicles coming from the side of Quetta were stopped, said security officials. The Quetta-Chaman road was blocked by security forces at various locations following the incident. Even the 3G and 4G services were suspended in the area. -Sabah
