Afghan Border Police (ABP) traded fire with Pakistani forces along the Durand Line in Kandahar province on Sunday, security officials said.
The clashes erupted after Afghan police prevented Pakistani forces from fencing the line in Shorabak district, spokesman for Kandahar police Ahmad Zai Durani said.
“Today afternoon, Pakistani forces were trying to fence the line in Shorabk, but border police prevented them,” Durani said.
According to him, in response, Pakistani forces attacked Afghan border police that led to the clashes between them which were ongoing as of late Sunday, adding that no side suffered casualties.
Durani said the Pakistani side closed the friendship gate in Boldak afterword.
This comes as police chief for the southern province on Saturday warned that he would not allow Pakistan to install any barrier on the de facto border.
Gen. Abdul Raziq told Pajhwok Afghan News that Pakistan started fencing the Durand Line in the southern region of the country fortnight ago, but Afghan border forces prevented their move.
“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.
However, in response, Taliban militants directed by Pakistani mentors attacked Afghan border forces in Spin Boldak, Maruf, Arghistan and Shorabak districts, he alleged.
The police chief claimed the Taliban wanted to keep the Afghan border forces engaged and let the Pakistani forces safely install the fence.
“If the Taliban really defend their territory, then they should not disturb Afghan forces and not attack their posts before possible clashes with Pakistani forces”, Raziq added. He said they would never allow the Durand Line to be fenced.
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 line 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.
