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Anger over the closure of the border over fear of coronavirus provoked protests and then artillery shelling.
By Taimoor Shah and Mujib Mashal
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Some of the most intense border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years have left at least 15 civilians dead on Afghan Thursday, authorities said.
Afghanistan accused Pakistani forces of firing heavy artillery at civilian spaces after protests in communities on both sides calling for the reopening of a nearby border crossing that Pakistan had closed to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.
Hayatullah Hayat, governor of Kandahar province, where the clashes took place, said Pakistan’s worst artillery shelling began around 7 p.m. and hit the Spin Boldak area.In addition to the dead, at least 80 other civilians were injured, he said.said they retaliated with rockets. Social media videos filmed in the Pakistani aspect showed the dark sky illuminated through intense crossfire.
A Pakistani local government delegation from Balochistan province had reached the border to assess the situation, Pakistan said.
General Yasin Zia, head of the Afghan army, ordered the 3 army corps stationed along the border areas to be “fully prepared to retaliate in kind against the Pakistani army” and put his country’s special forces and air force on a “maximum alert.”The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement. The ministry estimated the death toll in nine, adding one child.
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