LANDI KOTAL, May 24: An Afghan border guard was killed and three Afghan civilians were injured when Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire at Torkham on Saturday.

According to sources, the incident took place when some Khyber Rifles personnel tried to stop an Afghan boy from taking flour illegally across the border. This caused a heated brawl between the two sides which resulted in the exchange of fire.

The firing created panic among pedestrians and traffic was also suspended for nearly one-and-a-half hours.

An official of the political administration told Dawn that the matter was later resolved and border reopened.

He said the incident was a result of misunderstanding between border guards of the two countries. He said they had intensified vigilance against smuggling of flour and wheat.

It is believed that Afghan officials are not happy with the restriction on arrival of flour into Afghanistan.