Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Tensions mounted at the Torkham border crossing as exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan security forces continued on Tuesday, resulting in injuries to two more Frontier Corps personnel.

Major Jawad Ali Changezi, who was injured in the border violence a day earlier, succumbed to his injuries at the CMH in Peshawar on Tuesday. The death of the army officer is likely to ratchet up tension between the two neighbouring countries, who sources said were beefing up troop numbers on either side.

The Pakistan army has moved heavy weaponry and additional troops to the Afghan border Monday night, said Pakistani security officials, who wished not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The conflict also prompted bitter recriminations on both sides, with Islamabad and Kabul summoning each other’s diplomats to lodge strong formal complaints. Three people have been killed so far in the clashes that started on Sunday, forcing the closure of the main border crossing.

A Pakistan army officer and two Afghan policemen were among those killed. At least 18 people from the Pakistani side, many of them civilians, were wounded, while nine Afghans also received injuries in the gunfights since Sunday. The border is now closed until the tension subsides.

On Tuesday, Afghan forces once again resorted to firing at the Pakistani positions at around 5 pm from the highest security post located in Shamshad Ghar. The Pakistani administrative offices and security forces offices were hit during the firing that lasted for more than half an hour. Pakistani security forces retaliated with use of light and heavy weapons. Eye witnesses claimed that the Shamshad Ghar security post was engulfed in huge flames.

In other developments, Pakistan Army relaxed curfew in Landi Kotal bazaar during the day to allow people meet their daily needs. The locals had requested the security officials to ease curfew as they were away from the border. People in Landi Kotal were seen hurrying into purchasing their groceries as they remained uncertain of the situation.

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif attended funeral prayers for Major Jawad Ali Changezi. In Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad, more than a thousand mourners attended funeral prayers on Tuesday for the dead Afghan soldier. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan summoned Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain Shah and lodged protest over the clashes.

The deputy foreign minister for administrative affairs Dr Nasir Ahmad Andisha claimed agreement was reached for the establishment of installations in Torkham as part of the negotiations between the two nations in accordance with the international norms. He alleged that Pakistan continued with the installation work contrary to the agreement and the Pakistani forces opened fire on the Afghan border guards, Afghan press reported.