BAJAUR, Jan 5: United States commandos in the Kunar province, bordering  the Bajaur tribal agency on Sunday opened the gate at the Ghakhi Pass border checkpoint and let dozens of Afghans walk into Pakistan, eyewitnesses said.

The border security officials did not take any action as the American troops forcefully opened the checkpoint and let dozens of Afghans, mostly women, children and elderly people, enter the country, they said.

Sources said a contingent of American commandos searching the border areas in Kunar for the Taliban and Al Qaeda fugitives spotted  people waiting near the checkpoint to enter Bajaur.  

The Americans questioned the people and when they were told that the Afghans were waiting for the opening of the border to enter Pakistan as all other routes were closed due to heavy snowfall, they asked the Pakistani officials to open the gate, sources said.

When the officials refused to open the border, the US commandos forcefully opened it, letting all people into Pakistan, said some Afghans who made it to Bajaur.

They said the Pakistani officials did not resist the move.

Sources said some guards wanted to resist the action and warn the US troops against any border violation but they were asked by an official to avoid a clash.