QUETTA: Four Pakistanis were among about 30 people killed in a Nato air strike in Afghanistan’s Helmand province two days ago, according to sources.

They said Nato planes attacked a convoy of drug smugglers late on Friday night when they were crossing a desert north of Band Timor, near the Pak-Afghan border, with a large quantity of drugs that they intended to smuggle into Iran through Chagai district.

Chagai Deputy Commis­sioner Qadir Parkani confirmed the incident on Sun­day, saying that four Pakistanis had been killed in the air strike.

Reports from across the border said the bodies of most victims were charred beyond recognition.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2016