China hopes Pakistan, Afghanistan to properly address border issue

Border troops of the two countries involved in hours of exchange of firing on Friday that caused casualties on both sides.

At least three children are among the injured and two of the victims are said to be in critical condition. The meeting also deliberated a suggestion for usage of google maps.

Nafeez Zakaria Pakistani foreign minister claimed that the census workers were on the Pakistani side when attacked, General Abdul Raziq, police chief in Kandahar province said that the census was being used to hide crossing of militants from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Pakistani and Afghanistan military commanders agreed to carry out a geological survey of the border area.

Afghan officials said the Pakistani team and its uniformed Frontier Corps guards had crossed into Afghan territory, but they did not provide a detailed account of the incidents. He added that Afghanistan pleaded for a ceasefire on May 5, which was accepted by Pakistan. Despite several high-level visits by Pakistani intelligence and security officials to Afghanistan in recent weeks, relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate.

Al Jazeera's Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul, said Afghan officials called Pakistan's claims "totally false".

Bab-e-Dosti remains closed for the fourth day after attack by Afghan forces on Pak.

Meanwhile, Pakistan deployed more army and FC troops on the border.

Maj Gen Anjum told reporters in Chaman that Afghan troops had attacked the census staff and entered the two villages and started firing and shelling on civilians.

In March this year former Afghan President Hamid Karzai again said that Afghanistan would never accept the Durand Line as an worldwide border, stoking fears on the Pakistani side.

The border is not the only area of dispute between the neighbours: Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, though Islamabad says it provides the militants with safe haven as a "lever" to bring them to peace talks.

However, he said, the armed forces would not allow anyone to enter Pakistani territory as "we will not compromise on our global border".

He said Pakistan is a sovereign country and has the right to take measures for protecting its national security.

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

According to AFP, the Afghan government rejected the Pakistani claim.