Peshawar: Pakistani and Afghan officials say border guards exchanged gunfire overnight at a crossing between the two countries, leaving one guard dead and 17 wounded. The Torkham crossing was closed following the incident and talks are underway to reopen it on Monday.
Pakistani official Ghuncha Gul says the Afghan side started shooting late the previous night when construction work began on a new gate on the Pakistani side. He says the gunfire ended around 4 a.m. On the Pakistani side, two guards and nine civilians were wounded.
Afghan Gen. Zarawar Zahid, police chief of Nangarhar province, says one Afghan security officer was killed and six were wounded. Zahid says the Pakistani forces opened fire after the Afghans asked to stop work at the gate, which he claims lies on no-man's land.
