At least seven Pakistanis were killed in firing and shelling by Afghan Army on a census team in the border area of Chaman in Balochistan province on Friday morning.

Pakistan has closed the Chaman border crossing for an indefinite period. Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria has warned Afghanistan that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to the Afghan forces’ attack.

The spokesman of District Headquarters Hospital Chaman, Dr. Akhter, confirmed that six bodies have been brought to the hospital along with more than 30 injured.

A military statement earlier said Afghan forces resorted to unprovoked firing. “Afghan border forces opened fire on the personnel deployed for the security of population census team. The Afghan border forces have been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jehangir area in Chaman,” the statement alleged.

The Pakistani military said the attack happened despite the fact the Afghanistan authorities had been informed well in advance, and coordination was carried out through regular diplomatic and military channels for conduct of the census.

Disputed villages

But the Afghan government said Pakistan was warned not to conduct census in villages on the border which housed divided families.

“We had warned Pakistan that if they undertook any census activity (in the divided villages) we will retaliate. said General Abdul Raziq, Afghan regional police chief.