September 7, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Saani28,1423

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LANDI KOTAL, Sept 6: The Pakistani and Afghan border guards exchanged fire at the checkpoint of Torkham following an altercation over the treatment meted out to a driver.

Two Afghan women were wounded on the Afghan side of the border, and the offices of the political administration on the Pakistan’s side were slightly damaged by the three rockets fired by Afghan guards.

The matter was later resolved by senior officials from both sides.

The ugly situation developed at around 5.05pm when an Afghan truck driver crossed into Pakistan complaining of being badly treated by Afghan guards.

According eyewitnesses, brother of an Afghan border official, identified as Zabih, followed the driver inside Pakistan and began arguing with him. The Pakistani officials intervened and tried to cool him down.

Zabih snatched a rifle from an Afghan guard and began firing aerial shots in the direction of the Pakistan checkpoint.

This triggered a firing frenzy from the Afghan security guards, witnesses said.

The Pakistani forces manning the border returned the fire as are a result two Afghan women were slightly wounded.