Pakistan claims 50 killed, Kabul disputes toll

Pakistan's military yesterday said it had killed more than 50 Afghan soldiers in a clash on a major border crossing two days earlier, a claim quickly rejected by Kabul.

The skirmish took place Friday at the Chaman border that divides Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province and Afghanistan's southern Kandahar, as Pakistani officials were carrying out a census count.

At least eight civilians were killed, according to previously stated tolls by officials -- seven on the Pakistani side, and one on the Afghan side.

Afghanistan had blamed Pakistani census enumerators accompanied by soldiers for straying across the border, a charge denied by Islamabad.

Yesterday, Pakistani forces elevated their rhetoric by saying Afghan forces had suffered dramatic losses.

"We are not pleased to tell you that five Afghan check posts were completely destroyed -- more than 50 of their soldiers were killed and above 100 were wounded," Major General Nadim Ahmad, head of the paramilitary Frontier Corps told reporters.

"We are not happy for their losses but we were forced to retaliate," he said, adding two Pakistani soldiers were killed and nine wounded in the incident.

Kabul quickly denied the claim. "A very false claims by a Pakistani Frontier Corp that as many as 50 Afghan soldier lost their lives in Pak retaliation; totally rejected," tweeted Sediq Sediqqi, a government spokesman.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan families have fled fighting between the Taliban and government forces near the northern city of Kunduz as the insurgents captured a strategic district soon after launching their annual spring offensive.

The militants began their assault on the Qala-e-Zal district in Kunduz province on Saturday and captured most of it including the district centre.

The attack triggered intense fighting with government forces that sent civilians fleeing toward the provincial capital of Kunduz.

The Norwegian Refugee Council, which has offices in Kunduz, said in a statement that some families were forced to sleep in the open while others moved into the homes of relatives.