
Afghan and Iranian border police traded fire in southwestern Nimroz province on Wednesday, a police officer said.
The 30-minute clash, which caused Afghan border guards no casualties, ended after the Iranians retreated, Nimroz police chief Brig. Gen Abdul Jabbar Purdali told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said the fire exchange erupted at 10:30am, when Iranian border guards violated Afghanistan's border. The Iranians wanted to set up a check-post, a transit road, and a canal in a disputed area.
Both countries stake claims to the Guzar-i-Khwaja area, two kilometers from Zaranj -- the capital of Nimroz. But a timely response from Afghan border police, forced the Iranians to pull back.
A local border police official said on condition of anonymity that a 9.7-kilometre area from Lakhshak to Brechi has been the subject of dispute between the neighbours since 1973 when five Afghan policemen were killed in a clash.
As Col. Qasimkhel, the provincial border police chief, refused to comment on the incident, resident Juma Khan said: "Four mortar shells fired by Iranian forces landed in the area, causing no casualties."http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/09/14/afghan-iranian-border-guards-trade-fire

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