QUETTA: Two Pak­istani nationals, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed and two others injured on Wednesday when an Afghan sentry opened “unprovoked” and “indiscriminate” fire at pedestrians at the Chaman border crossing, the military said.

The incident happened when people were crossing over into Afghanistan through the Friendship Gate, officials said.

The incident took place hours after Kabul described as “unacceptable” Islamabad’s ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan by Oct 31, or risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.

“Own troops exercised extreme restraint and avoided any exchange of fire in presence of innocent passengers to avoid collateral damage,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement, adding that the bodies had been shifted to the district hospital in Chaman. The injured civilian, who was evacuated by security forces, is under treatment.

The deceased were ide­n­­tified as Nasibullah, 70, and Abdul Mohammad, 12.

“We were crossing the border when suddenly firing started and I got injured,” Rafiullah, 17, told the media at the district hospital.

The injured FC man was taken to Quetta for treatment.

The ISPR said an Afghan sentry employed at the Friendship Gate opened unprovoked and indiscriminate firing at pedestrians waiting to enter Afghanistan from Pakistan. The incident occurred at the outbound gate located on the zero line.

Afghan authorities have been approached to inquire into the reason for such “irresponsible and reckless act”, apprehend and hand over the culprit to Pakistani authorities, the ISPR said, adding the interim Afghan government is also expected to exercise control over its troops and impart discipline to act responsibly in order to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future.

Pakistan remains committed to contributing towards peace, prosperity and development through positive and constructive bilateral relations; however, such unpleasant occu­rrences have the potential to harm the sincere intent and purpose, it added.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023