(Shaman) Afghan Taliban forces opened fire on Sunday at a border crossing with Pakistan, killing six civilians, the Pakistani army said, which responded.
More than a dozen people were also injured by the “unprovoked and indiscriminate firing” near the town of Chaman in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, the army added.
“Pakistani Border Forces responded appropriately, albeit measured against the unwarranted aggression, but avoided targeting innocent civilians in the area,” the statement said. “Pakistan has also approached the Afghan authorities in Kabul to stress the seriousness of the situation and requested strict measures to avoid any such incident in the future.”
The clash took place when Afghan forces attempted to cut through part of the border fence, a senior provincial government official who requested anonymity told AFP.
The Taliban administration in Kabul has not yet spoken.
Thousands of people cross the border between Spin Boldak, Afghanistan and Chaman, Pakistan every day, including traders, Afghans seeking medical care in Pakistan, and people visiting relatives.
Last month, a gunman shot and killed a Pakistani security guard at the Chaman crossing, closing it for a week.
Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan last year, border tensions have escalated, with Pakistan believing that armed groups are plotting attacks against it from Afghan territory.
The Taliban deny welcoming Pakistani insurgents, but are also furious that Islamabad is building a fence along their common border of some 2,700 km.