Taliban firing at Pakistan border kills six civilians

Afghan Taliban forces opened fire at a border crossing with Pakistan, killing six civilians, the Pakistani military said.

More than a dozen people were wounded by the "unprovoked and indiscriminate fire" near the town of Chaman in Balochistan province, the military added.

"Pakistani border troops have given a befitting albeit measured response against the uncalled for aggression, but avoided targeting innocent civilians in the area," said the Pakistani statement.

"Pakistan has also approached Afghan authorities at Kabul to highlight the severity of the situation and demanded strict action to obviate any such recurrence of the incident in future."

The clash happened after Afghan forces tried to cut part of the fence on the border, according to a senior provincial government official who spoke  on condition of anonymity.

A police spokesman in Kandahar province confirmed that a clash had taken place at the border without giving further details.

A Taliban member was killed and 10 people wounded, including three civilians, a spokesman for the provincial governor added.

Thousands cross the border between Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, and Chaman, Pakistan, every day, including traders, Afghans seeking medical treatment in Pakistan, and people visiting relatives.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants, but are also infuriated by a fence Islamabad is putting up along the 2,700-kilometre border between the two countries.