AFP journalists near the key Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan heard gunfire and shelling on Friday, as the neighbors engaged in deadly fighting.
Incoming shelling was heard from the Afghan side of the border from around 9:30am (0500 GMT), before cross-border clashes resumed, while gunfire was heard in the distance.
One of the journalists saw more Afghan soldiers heading towards the frontier, before he was told to leave the area by the security forces.
The Torkham crossing has remained open for Afghans returning en masse from Pakistan, despite the land border being largely shut since fighting between the neighbors in October.
The Omari camp that accommodates returnees near the crossing was hit by the fighting overnight, prompting people to flee.
“Children, women, and old people were running,” said Gander Khan, a 65-year-old returnee, standing in front of rows of tents.
“Here, nearby, a bullet (explosives) hit. I saw blood, it wounded two or three children, and two or three women,” he told AFP.
Zarghon, a 44-year-old returnee who only gave one name, said two or three children went missing in the panic.
“Some have left their papers, and just escaped. They didn’t even take their money, they didn’t take their aid which they received. Because of fear, everyone left,” he told AFP.
Afghan forces launched a border offensive against Pakistani troops late Thursday, in what the Taliban authorities said was retaliation for deadly Pakistani air strikes days earlier.
The outbreak of cross-border fighting was followed by Pakistan launching air strikes on the Afghan capital Kabul and the key city of Kandahar, which were heard by AFP journalists.
