1 killed in clash between protesters and soldiers at Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing

A source said that the violence erupted near the border, where a large number of ‘lagharis’ (daily wage workers) have been staging a prolonged sit-in against the introduction of visas and passports led by one Maulana Mohammad Yousuf.

“The body of a young man who was killed in the exchange was brought to the district headquarters hospital in Chaman,” the source said. He said the injured were also rushed to the same hospital for medical treatment.

“Security has been tightened in and around the Pak-Afghan border in the aftermath of the violent clash.” Immediately after the clashes, some political parties, traders, and lagharis observed a shutter-down strike in Chaman to protest the incident.

The protesters also blocked the main Quetta-Chaman highway at the Kozhak pass.

Another source said that senior security officials had reached Chaman and were negotiating with the protesters to calm down the situation.

This isn’t the first time that clashes have taken place near the Chaman border which is a main crossing point between the two countries and hundreds of labourers cross over on a daily or weekly basis for work while trade containers also regularly use the route.