March 30, 2006	Thursday	Safar 29, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, March 29: Pakistan has been informed by the Afghan government that two teams are investigating the killing of 16 Pakistani civilians in Spin Boldak last week, diplomatic sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

It was conveyed to Pakistan through diplomatic channels on Wednesday that one team had been constituted by the Interior Ministry in Kabul and another by the Governor of Kandahar to probe into the matter.

However, Kabul has not indicated any timeline for the probe or its findings.

Islamabad had last week lodged a strong protest with Kabul over the killing of 16 Pakistani civilians by the Afghan security forces in Spin-Boldak on Wednesday and demanded an immediate inquiry into the incident.

The government this week reiterated its demand for a thorough investigation into the incident and asked Kabul to share the findings with Islamabad at the earliest possible. Pakistan also demanded that that those responsible for the brutal killing be brought to the book.

“We have told them the earlier the better,” a senior official told Dawn.

The Afghan ambassador who is scheduled to leave for Kabul on Thursday is expected to push the Karzai government to move fast on this issue to defuse mounting tension between the two countries.—Q.A.