Afghan, Pakistani forces clash over border fence

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Afghan and Pakistani border forces engaged in an armed clash over building a fence along the Durand Line on Sunday, local officials in southern Kandahar province said.

Kandahar police spokesman, Zia Durani, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Pakistani forces tried this afternoon to fence a part of the Durand Line in Shorabak district of Kandahar, but Afghan border forces prevented their move.

He said Pakistani forces in response attacked the Afghan forces and the clash was still underway. No one has so far been hurt in the battle. However, Pakistan closed down the friendship gate in Spin Boldak.

A day earlier, Kandahar police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, said they had stopped Pakistan from fencing the Durand Line.

He said that Pakistan started fencing the Durand Line in the southern region of the country but they stopped them.

“Two weeks back, Pakistani forces started installation of fence on the border between Spin Boldak and Shorabak districts of Kandahar but border forces removed the fence and prevented them from doing so,” Raziq added.

A year back, Afghan and Pakistani forces engaged in heavy clashes over fence installation in Luqman and Jahangir areas of Spin Boldak district and both the sides suffered casualties.

Luqman and Jahangir areas are located in the zero point area of the border and they belong to Spin Boldak district.

Pakistan forces last year conducted a population registration process in the two areas and claimed the areas belonged to Pakistan, but Afghan forces prevented them.

The Afghan forces’ interference last year led to a fierce clash that continued for several hours, with both sides sustaining heavy casualties.

After the clash, Afghanistan port with Pakistan was closed for 23 days that caused millions of afghanis losses to traders.

mds/ma