JALALABAD - Afghan and Pakistan security forces on Monday resumed a new round of fire exchange at the contested Torkham border, an official in eastern Nangarhar province said.
Mohammad Ayub Hussainkhel, 301st  zone Afghan border police official, told Pajhwok Afghan News the latest fire exchange erupted at around 4:30pm. He accused the Pakistani side of initiating the firing and said Afghan forces were now responding.
Following an overnight clash between Afghan and Pakistani forces, the Torkham border remained closed for traffic on Monday morning, an official said.
The fierce fire exchange erupted at 9pm on Sunday night when Afghan forces tried to stop Pakistani border guards from constructing a gate and installing a fence along the frontier.
Attaullah Khogyani, the Nangarhar governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the clash lasted two hours. However, he said gunfire in some areas continued for several hours.
One Afghan border policeman was killed and five others wounded during the clash, he said.
However, the 301 border zone police official Col. Ayub Hussainkhel said that six policemen were injured in the incident.
“Afghan forces aggressively responded to the enemy,” he said, adding they would defend their motherland until their last breath.
Khogyani said Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi and provincial council head, Ahmad Ali Hazrat were getting live updates on the situation on the eastern border.Ten ambulances had been sent to the border area.
On the other hand, President Ashraf Ghani ordered all security forces to defend their country.
A small number of travellers who wanted to cross the frontier were turned back due to the closure of the border.
A security official in Torkham said Pakistani security posts and offices across the border had been torched as result of rocket and mortar attacks from the Afghan side.
The source said more than 20 Pakistani militiamen suffered casualties in the incident. The Pakistan military has reportedly banned public movements in Torkham and Land-i-Kotalborder towns. (Pajhwok)