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KABUL – Pakistani security forces killed one person and injured multiple others after they opened fire on a large swath of protesters gathered at Chaman border-crossing point in southwestern Pakistan near Afghanistan in a fatal clash. The incident unfolded as Pakistani Frontier Corps soldiers clashed with demonstrators who had been staging a sit-in at the key crossing point in Balochistan province.
According to reports from the scene, one individual lost their life, and nine others sustained injuries during the confrontation. The escalation in tensions occurred amidst protests over new visa and passport regulations, with demonstrators expressing discontent with the recent changes.
While protesters claim security forces initiated unprovoked firing, security sources from Chaman present a conflicting narrative, attributing the violence to the protesters’ alleged aggression towards Frontier Corps posts. This disparity in accounts underscores the complexity of the situation.
Sadiq Achakzai, a spokesperson for the ongoing protests in Balochistan’s Chaman district, recounted how security forces raided the demonstrators’ camp and set fire to their tents during their absence. Upon their return, protesters were met with gunfire, resulting in casualties and injuries.
Video footage purportedly depicting victims at a local hospital surfaced on social media, though its authenticity remains unverified. Nevertheless, the gravity of the situation is evident, with the aftermath of the clash underscoring the human toll of the conflict.
The backdrop to these protests is rooted in longstanding grievances among traders and shopkeepers at Chaman, who have been protesting since October against new travel restrictions imposed by the government. The decision to require valid documents for border crossings has sparked outcry, particularly among Pashtun communities on both sides of the border, who argue that it has adversely impacted their livelihoods.
The closure of the Chaman border crossing, the second-busiest between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has not only disrupted trade but also drawn criticism from the Taliban’s de facto government in Kabul. Efforts to reopen the crossings through talks between the Taliban and Pakistani officials have thus far been unsuccessful, prolonging the economic and humanitarian implications of the impasse.
