CHAMAN: Unprovoked firing by Afghan border forces the other day affected more than 2,000 families living near the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman. Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Muhammad Tariq gave the figures at a press conference on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Chaman Deputy Commissioner (DC) Qaisar Khan said that residents of villages located near the border had been instructed to evacuate. “Announcements at mosques have been made and pamphlets distributed in this regard,” the DC reported. The PDMA DG said that relief goods worth Rs 40 million had been dispatched for Chaman’s displaced population.
Meanwhile, reiterating the stance for promoting mutual cooperation with Afghanistan to eliminate terrorism, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made it clear that Pakistan would respond instantly and effectively in a befitting way to borders violations. Talking to journalists in Sialkot on Saturday, the minister stressed the need to promote mutual cooperation for establishing durable peace, saying Pakistan would continue its sincere efforts for better relations. It may be mentioned here that the Pak-Afghan Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate), educational institutions and shops in the surrounding areas remained closed on Saturday after the Afghan forces opened unprovoked fire on Frontier Corps (FC) personnel. They had been appointed for the security of the population census teams in Balochistan’s Chaman area.
Security was on high alert in the area as fresh contingents of the Pakistan Army have been deployed at the border with tanks and artillery. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is also ready to respond to any aggression shown by Afghan forces.
At least 10 people, including three children and two women, were killed by Afghan forces near the major border crossing, where Pakistani census officials were carrying out a headcount. Also, 46 others were injured in the firing and shelling, including FC officers. Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance about the presence of security officials in the area for the protection of census officials. The army claimed that Afghan forces had been “creating hurdles” since April 30th for the census team in Chaman.
