QUETTA, Jan 1 Three Pakistani shepherds were killed when Afghan forces opened fire in Zangeer area of the Zhob district close to the border with Afghanistan on Friday.

Sources said that the shepherds were grazing their sheep and goats near Karez Qamaruddin town when the Afghans fired at them, killing the three men.

The sources said that the Afghan troops opened fire without giving any warning.

The deceased were identified as Saifuddin, Abdul Malik and Mohammad Rasool Mardanzai, residents of the Kashto area.

Afghan border authorities handed over the bodies to Pakistani border officials in the afternoon.

Mardanzai tribal elders condemned the killing and called upon the government to take up the matter with the Afghan government.

OIL TANKERS GUTTED Two oil tankers carrying fuel for Nato forces in Afghanistan were torched by armed men near Kuchlak area on the Quetta-Chaman road on Friday.

Sources said that the tankers were going to Kandahar from Karachi.

The drivers and other people saved their lives by jumping from the burning tankers.

It was the third such incident in Quetta and Kuchlak area in a week. Two days ago, two drivers were killed and two others injured in firing on Nato oil tankers near Mangochar area of Kalat district.

EXPLOSION Quetta was rocked on Friday night when a bomb exploded in the Sabzal road area.

Sources said the explosive device had been placed near the gate of an under-construction house in Killi Ibrahimzai area.