From Our Correspondent:
Negotiations between government and participants of sit-in ended after successful talks at Chaman on Friday evening. Home Minister Balochistan, Ziaullah Langove and Awami National Party (ANP) legislator Zamarak Achakzai held successful negotiations and succeeded in convincing the traders’ community and tribesmen to end the sit-in and protest. “An inquiry commission would be formed to probe into the firing incident”, Mr. Langove assured the traders and tribal elites. He said heirs of those killed in the firing incident would be compensated and injured would be provided all possible health treatment by the government.
Earlier in the day:
Balochistan’s Home Minister, Mir Ziaullah Langove and the Agriculture Minister, Zamarak Khan Achakzai visited Pak-Afghan border Chaman after a violent clash at the border. The clash had left three people dead and around 20 injured on Thursday evening. “We cannot tolerate aggression and infiltration of terrorists”, Mr. Langove warned.
The ministers also held meetings with traders to discuss the closure of the bordering area. The interior minister strongly condemned the incident, adding that anti-state elements were trying to take advantage of the situation, but will never be allowed to succeed.
He maintained that the reason the border was closed was due to terrorist activities. “Terrorists had entered through the Pak-Afghan border,” he claimed. Langove said it is the responsibility of the government to provide employment to the masses but there can be no compromises if it comes to state security. The Home Minister expressed condolence over the loss of lives and prayed for a speedy recovery of those injured.
On Thursday, at least two people died, including a woman, while protesting against the closure of Pakistan-Afghanistan bordering area Chaman. Last week, authorities had temporarily opened the border till Eidul Azha for transit trade and allowed cross-border movement of the people.
