QUETTA: A soldier and a driver were killed in a clash between the Frontier Corps and terrorists in Qila Saifullah district’s Murgha Faqirzai area on the Afghan border on Friday.

According to Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hus­sain Durrani, the exchange of heavy fire lasted two hours.

“An FC man and a tractor driver lost their lives while casualties were also reported across the border.”

Sources said that fire was opened from across the border on security personnel.

An FC spokesman, Khan Wasey, said the clash took place when troops patrolling the border intercepted armed people trying to enter the country.

“Around 70 terrorists and drug smugglers tried to barge into the Pakistani area,” he said.

“Our soldier was hit by bullets fired from across the border,” he said, adding that a large number of terrorists had been killed and injured.

More FC troops and helicopters were sent to the area after the attack.

Balochistan FC Inspector General Maj Gen Muham­mad Ejaz Shahid said infiltration of terrorists and smugglers from Afghanistan was harmful for friendly relations between the two countries.

“The Afghan government must take strict action against terrorists and drug smugglers to ensure that they don’t get a chance to cross the border,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014