NATO forces were accused of shooting dead two Pakistani men in Afghanistan's Helmand province early Thursday, amid tensions following a deadly air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Relatives said the men were from Chagai in northwestern Pakistan, about 18 miles from the border, The Express Tribune reported. They were reportedly visiting relatives living in Afghanistan when NATO forces opened fire.

The incident comes as NATO faces rising anger from Pakistani authorities in the wake the air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border Saturday.

The dead men were identified as Abdullah and Mohammad Usman.