Several people have lost their lives after a cross-border gunfight broke out between Afghan and Pakistani security forces, amid simmering tensions between the militancy-plagued neighbors, officials from both countries say.

According to Hanan Zadran, the acting police chief for Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost, at least one Afghan civilian and two Pakistani security forces were killed on Sunday morning in the clash, which occurred in Zazi Maidan district, neighbor to Pakistan’s western Kurram Agency.

He added that the bodies of the two Pakistanis were found on the Afghan side of the border near Pakistan's tribal belt along the Durand Line, a 2,400-kilometer frontier drawn by the British in 1896, as it separates the Pashtun ethnic group between the two countries.

However, Afghanistan's Tolo News, citing the 203rd Thunder Corps commander, General Shaur Gul, reported that three Pakistani soldiers had been killed, and three others arrested. He also claimed that the skirmish broke out when Pakistani troopers started shooting at a check post close to Jandighar area in Zazi Maidan district.

Khost provincial governor spokesman Talib Mangal, while confirming the deadly clash, said that two Afghan civilians and four Pakistani troops had lost their lives in the incident.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Geo News reported that two officials of the country’s Frontier Corps (FC) had been killed and five others sustained injuries in the cross-border gunfight.

The Pakistani military also said in a statement that the two members of its paramilitary FC were “carrying out routine surveillance” along the Durand Line when they were “fired upon from Afghanistan.”

Kabul has repeatedly accused Islamabad of providing safe havens for the Afghan Taliban terror group, which has been engaged in an insurgency in Afghanistan for more than 16 years. Islamabad, however, strongly rejects the accusation, saying that the outfit is targeting Pakistani forces and civilians on the Afghan side of the border.

Pakistan and Afghanistan regularly accuse each other of sheltering their enemy insurgents. The two sides also accuse each other of not doing enough to stop militants engaging in cross-border raids. </s> ISLAMABAD - Pakistan says cross-border fire from Afghanistan Sunday killed two Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and wounded five others.

A military spokesman said its personnel were conducting routine "surveillance" in the remote Kurram region “to plug gaps and make necessary preparations to start fencing” the border when they came under attack from the other side.

FILE - Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Gha FILE - Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor. FILE - Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor.

Army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor said an “engagement” between military officials of the two countries “is underway to defuse [the] situation.”

Pakistani troops, he added, are “exercising maximum restraint” to avoid any Afghan civilian casualties on the other side of the border.

Earlier, a regional Afghan police chief told VOA the clashes broke out along the Zazi Maidan border district in southeastern province of Khost adjacent to Kurram.

General Abdul Hanan Zadran claimed two Pakistani border forces were killed and several others were wounded. He confirmed one Afghan civilian fatality on his side but local media reported the death of at least two Afghan border forces while several others were wounded.

Pakistani army spokesman Ghafoor told VOA it was not clear whether Afghan military or border police forces initiated the cross-border fire "because there is no Afghan border post in the near vicinity.”



Pakistan and Afghanistan share a nearly 2,600-kilometer largely porous border. The Pakistani military has recently started constructing a robust fence on the border in its bid to prevent illegal crossings in either direction.

Afghan authorities oppose Pakistani plans of fencing the frontier because Kabul disputes the former British era demarcation.

The Afghan government earlier this month accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes and firing hundreds of shells in their eastern border province of Kunar, charges Islamabad rejected.



Pakistani officials maintain that fugitive militants hiding in “ungoverned” Afghan border areas plot terrorist attacks against the country and military forces are conducting operations inside their own territory to deter such attacks.

Islamabad maintains fencing of the border will help address mutual concerns of illegal terrorist infiltration.

Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of sheltering and helping Taliban insurgents, charges Pakistani officials deny. </s> Afghan troops with Pakistani forces met in clash near the disputed border on Sunday, results killed two Pakistani paramilitaries and injured five others, officials said.

Pakistan’s military said in a statement that the Frontier Corps was carrying out time regulated surveillance along the border when it was “fired upon from the Afghanistan side.” It said the paramilitaries showed prevent maximum to avoid civilian casualties, and that “military engagement” is underway to solve the situation.

Col. Abdul Hanan, the acting provincial police chief in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province, said the fighting broke out after Pakistani forces violated the cross line of Afghanistan.

The two countries are separated by the 2,400-kilometer (1,500-mile) Durand Line, by British rulers in 1896. Afghanistan does not recognize it as an international border and has objected to new fortifications being built by Pakistan. </s> Afghan troops clashed with Pakistani forces near the disputed border on Sunday, in fighting that killed two Pakistani paramilitaries and wounded five others, officials said.

Pakistan's military said in a statement that the Frontier Corps was carrying out "routine surveillance" along the border when it was "fired upon from the Afghanistan side." It said the paramilitaries showed "maximum restraint" to avoid civilian casualties, and that "military engagement" is underway to defuse the situation.

Col. Abdul Hanan, interim chief of the Afghan National Police, said clashes broke out in the morning when Pakistani border forces allegedly opened fire at Afghan villages in Zazi Maiden district along the Durand Line.

According to Hanan, two Pakistani guards were arrested.

The two countries are separated by the 2,400-kilometer (1,500-mile) Durand Line, which was drawn by British rulers in 1896. Afghanistan does not recognize it as an international border and has objected to new fortifications being built by Pakistan.

The two U.S. allies routinely accuse each other of failing to crack down on militants who operate along the porous border. Khost province lies next to the restive tribal belt in Pakistan. </s> PARACHINAR: Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross-border fire from Afghanistan while working on a fence intended to cover nearly all of the disputed 2,500 km border separating the countries, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.

 Though security has improved in Pakistan’s remote areas bordering Afghanistan, sectarian militant attacks, primarily targeting Shiite Muslims, still occur.

 “Pakistani troops are exercising maximum restraint so as to avoid any Afghan civilian casualties,” the Pakistan Army’s public relations department said, adding that five soldiers were wounded in the attack.

 Afghan officials said that Pakistani troops crossed on to Afghan soil, prompting a response by border forces and the local tribal force.

 “Two tribesmen were killed and the exchange of fire is ongoing,” said Mohmud Zazai, a senior army commander in the area.

 Pakistan has blamed Pakistani Taliban militants it says are based on Afghan soil for attacks that have taken place in the region over the past two years, urging Kabul to eradicate “sanctuaries” for militants.

 Afghanistan, in turn, accuses Islamabad of sheltering the leadership of the Afghan Taliban militants who are battling the Western-backed government in Kabul.

 A local political official, who asked not to be identified, said that Pakistani security forces had responded on Sunday by opening fire along the border. — Reuters </s> QUETTA, Pakistan Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire for several hours on Friday along their disputed border, officials on both sides said, as tension between the neighbours flared into deadly violence.Pakistan's military said a census team - guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC) - that was collecting population data in a village near the border town of Chaman came under fire and at least one person was killed and 18 wounded.Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for "malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government"."They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them," Durani said, adding two Afghan border police were wounded.Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq said 40 Pakistani soldiers and 37 others were killed, including 14 Afghan border police. Reuters was unable to confirm the figures.

Violence ceased later in the day and officials from both sides were due to meet at the frontier, the Pakistani military said. Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires to protest at what it called unprovoked firing.The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan's Kandahar province is one of two border points. A doctor in a Chaman hospital told Reuters three people had been killed in the fighting.

Relations between the countries have been uneasy since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Afghanistan has traditionally enjoyed better ties with Pakistan's rival, India.Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants, something Pakistan denies.Pakistan's military said Afghan border police had been "creating hurdles" since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.

"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 the census," the military said.Tension has been increasing in recent months with each side accusing the other of not doing enough to stop militants engaging in cross-border raids.Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which has never formally recognised the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893. (Additional reporting by Syed Raza Hassan in Karachi and Hamid Shalizi in Kabul; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Robert Birsel and Robin Pomeroy)

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Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire for several hours on Friday along their disputed border, officials on both sides said, as tension between the neighbours flared into deadly violence.

QUETTA, Pakistan: Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire for several hours on Friday along their disputed border, officials on both sides said, as tension between the neighbours flared into deadly violence.

Pakistan's military said a census team - guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC) - that was collecting population data in a village near the border town of Chaman came under fire and at least one person was killed and 18 wounded.

Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for "malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government".

"They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them," Durani said, adding two Afghan border police were wounded.

Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq said 40 Pakistani soldiers and 37 others were killed, including 14 Afghan border police. Reuters was unable to confirm the figures.

Violence ceased later in the day and officials from both sides were due to meet at the frontier, the Pakistani military said. Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires to protest at what it called unprovoked firing.

The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan's Kandahar province is one of two border points. A doctor in a Chaman hospital told Reuters three people had been killed in the fighting.

Relations between the countries have been uneasy since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Afghanistan has traditionally enjoyed better ties with Pakistan's rival, India.

Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants, something Pakistan denies.

Pakistan's military said Afghan border police had been "creating hurdles" since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.

"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 the census," the military said.

Tension has been increasing in recent months with each side accusing the other of not doing enough to stop militants engaging in cross-border raids.

Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which has never formally recognised the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893. </s> Clashes erupted between Pakistani and Afghan troops on Friday along their disputed border and at least one person was killed, Pakistan's military said, in another blow to already tense relations between the neighbours.

QUETTA, Pakistan: Clashes erupted between Pakistani and Afghan troops on Friday along their disputed border and at least one person was killed, Pakistan's military said, in another blow to already tense relations between the neighbours.

Pakistan's military said the clashes broke out in a remote village near the Pakistani border town of Chaman as a Pakistani census team, guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC), was collecting population figures.

"Afghan border police opens fire on FC detailed for security of population census team," said Pakistan military's media wing, adding that 18 people were wounded.

The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan's Kandahar province is one of two main crossing points on the border.

While the military said one person had been killed, a doctor in a hospital in Chaman told Reuters that three people had been killed in the fighting.

Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for "malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government".

"They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them," Durani said, adding two Afghan border police were wounded.

Relations between the countries have been uneasy since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Afghanistan has traditionally enjoyed better ties with Pakistan's arch rival, India.

Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants on its soil. Pakistan officially denies that even though various Taliban leaders have over the years been killed, died and detained in Pakistan.

Tension has been increasing in recent months amid new exchanges of accusations of not doing enough to tackle militants engaging in cross-border raids.

Pakistan's military said Afghan border police had been "creating hurdles" since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.

"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 the census," the military said.

Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893.

Afghanistan has never formally recognised the line as the border. </s> At least 13 people have been killed and more than 80 others wounded in clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces near the Chaman border crossing, officials say.

The Afghan Border Police opened fire on soldiers accompanying a census team, a Pakistani military statement read on May 5.

"Since April 30, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," the statement adds.

On the Pakistani side, Naseem Ullah, a doctor at a hospital in Killa Abdullah, told the German dpa news agency that nine civilians were killed in shelling. He said more than 45 people, including 12 children and six security personnel, were wounded.

Media reports in Afghanistan citing a police chief said four Afghan security personnel were killed and 14 police and at least 23 civilians wounded.

Both sides blamed each other for having started the fighting that began in the early morning hours near the crossing in southwestern Pakistan and southern Afghanistan.

Firing still continues on the Chaman border, an RFE/RL correspondent reports.

Zia Durani, a spokesman for the police chief in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, blamed Pakistan for initiating the shooting, saying Pakistan wants to use the cover of data collection to help militants sneak into Afghanistan.

Another spokesman, Ghurzang Afridi, said the Pakistani census team had worked on the Afghan side of the border.

With reporting by dpa, AP, and Dawn
Afghan and Pakistani forces exchange cross-border fire on the Durand Line, killing two Pakistan Army troops and injuring five others.