Cross-border firing kills 5 Afghans including 3 soldiers

Fire exchange between Afghan and Pakistani forces at the border town of Torkham have claimed the lives of five Afghans including three soldiers and two civilians since Sunday, spokesman for Nangarhar provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said Wednesday.

"Since eruption of conflict and fire exchange at Torkham border, three Afghan Border Police personnel and two children have been killed," Khogiani told Xinhua.

He also confirmed that 23 others including a civilian sustained injuries over the period.

Pakistani forces, according to the official on Sunday, attempted to construct a gate on no man's land without informing the Afghan government and the step had triggered gun battle between the two sides.

Fire exchange claimed the life of one Afghan security personnel and injured four others on Tuesday evening, the official asserted.

However, he said that no firing had taken place since early Wednesday and those have shops and business in Torkham border town have begun shifting their business to safer places, adding the situation is tense.

Meantime, spokesman for Afghan Foreign Ministry Shukib Mustaghni in talks with local media described the incident as "unpleasant", saying Afghanistan adheres to its pervious accords with Pakistan and emphasizes peaceful methods and expects from Pakistani side to tackle this problem through diplomatic channels.

Although Afghan ranking officials are tight lipped, Afghan media has reported the clash at Torkham border town and according to media reports, both sides have suffered casualties.

Afghans in different provinces including astern Nangarhar, southern Helmand and northern Takhar provinces by organizing rallies announced their support to Afghan security forces at Torkham.

Afghan Mushrano Jirga or upper house of parliament has condemned the alleged incursion of Pakistani troops in Torkham and called upon the government to solve the problems through diplomatic channels. Endit