ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal has brushed aside the claims by Pakistan’s military about killing of over 50 Afghan security personnel in Chaman Clash.
Earlier yesterday, the Inspector General Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan Major General Nadeem Ahmad told while briefing the media in Chaman that in response to the Afghan forces’ unprovoked firing along the Chaman border, Pakistani forces had killed over 50 Afghan security personnel and injured another 100 in retaliatory firing.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the Afghan envoy however rejected such claims, saying the reports published on all Pakistani newspapers regarding the Afghan forces’ death was “based on info provided by Pak army and FC south command.”
Dr Omar Zakhilwal said that in fact only 2 Afghan soldiers were killed whereas 7 injured by Pakistani forces in exchange of fire at Chaman border.
The Afghan envoy said that “Even two lives are too many if our claim for seeking good neighbourly relations is genuine & if we mean well for each other.”
The ambassador further said that the “Chaman clash left casualties, deaths & injured, on Pakistani side too but we instead of celebrating called it unfortunate & regrettable.”
1/4: Woke up to celebratory front page headlines today on all Pak papers saying Pak killed 50 Afg soldiers & injured 100 in Chaman clash.
— Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) May 8, 2017
2/4: Was based on info provided by Pak army and FC south command. Truth is only 2 Afg soldiers got Shaheed and about 7 injured.
— Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) May 8, 2017
3/4: However, even two lives are too many if our claim for seeking good neighbourly relations is genuine & if we mean well for each other.
— Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) May 8, 2017
4/4: Chaman clash left casualties, deaths & injured, on Pak side too but we instead of celebrating called it unfortunate & regrettable.
— Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) May 8, 2017
In his media briefing, the inspector general FC Balochistan also said that about 4 to 5 Afghan posts had also been destroyed at the Chaman border by Pakistani security forces.
The Clashes on the Chaman border occurred after the Afghan border police on Friday opened fire on FC personnel guarding a Population Census team in Balochistan’s Chaman area, killing 12 persons including three women and five children, and leaving 40 others injured.
