22 killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan border clashes

Afghanistan accused Pakistan on Friday of killing 15 civilians during clashes at a border crossing where crowds were jostling to cross for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

Afghanistan accused Pakistan on Friday of killing 15 civilians during clashes at a border crossing where crowds were jostling to cross for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

On Pakistan’s side, hospital officials reported seven deaths from the flare-up between the Asian neighbors who are U.S. allies but often trade accusations of backing militants.

The governor of Afghanistan’s southeastern Kandahar province, Hayatullah Hayat, said shells fell on homes in the border town Spin Boldak, with women and children among 15 dead and 80 hurt, during the clashes between both nations’ security forces.

In Pakistan, medics said seven people had died and 31 were brought in with bullet wounds.

The violence flared when crowds waiting to cross into Afghanistan became unruly and attacked Pakistani installations, said a senior official in the Pakistani border town Chaman.

“If the Pakistani military continues its rocket attacks on Afghan territory, they will face retaliation by the Afghan army,” Afghanistan’s defense ministry said in a statement.