Afghan border forces kill two Pakistani shepherds

Published April 14, 2014
Afghan border policemen patrol near the border with Pakistan.  — File photo by Reuters
Afghan border policemen patrol near the border with Pakistan. — File photo by Reuters

QUETTA: Afghan security forces killed two Pakistani nationals who had mistakenly entered into Afghanistan near Badini area on Monday morning, a Levies official said.

A Levies official who requested not to be named, since he was not authorised to speak to media, told Dawn that two shepherds had mistakenly slipped into Afghanistan from Badini.

He said the Afghan security forces deployed at the border opened unprovoked gunfire without any warning killing the two shepherds on the spot.

The victims belonged to Badini area of Killa Saifullah district.

"I have ordered inquiry into the incident", Home Secretary Balochistan, Syed Asad Gilani told Dawn.

He said a team of senior officers was also dispatched to the area to probe the incident.

However, levies officials stated that the two shepherds were in pursuit of their camels and other livestock when they mistakenly slipped into Afghan territory.

A levies officer, who was negotiating the return of the dead bodies, told Dawn that "Afghan forces claim, the victims were Taliban insurgents".

The dead bodies of the victims were brought to Badini after negotiations with Afghan authorities.

Security was tightened on both sides of the border after the incident.

Few months back, the Afghan forces had killed four Pakistani tribesmen from Qamar uddin Karez area of Zhob district of Balochistan.

Pakistani foreign office had lodged strong protest with Afghan authorities.

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