Anti-Pakistan protests in southern Afghanistan turn violent, 11 killed

USPA News - At least eleven people were killed after the sixth day of protests turned violent in southern Afghanistan, local authorities said Wednesday. A crowd of hundreds of demonstrators grouped together in the district of Maiwand in Afghanistan`s southern province of Kandahar in an anti-Pakistan protest.

Governor spokesperson, Javed Faisal, said the group was joined by eight gunmen suspected of being members of different Taliban groups. Faisal, who spoke with Pajhwok Afghan News, said the gunmen opened fire, shooting at police and different vehicles. As a result, three civilians were killed and police forces eventually shot and killed the eight gunmen. Around 30 suspected militants joined the protests, including a suicide bomber. Security forces. In addition, authorities located and seized a motorbike packed with explosives. Faisal added, that some of the militants might have sneaked in from Pakistan. The anti-Pakistan demonstrations began after an Afghan policeman was killed during violent clashes that broke out between neighbors in the district of Goshta, in Nangarhar. Protests on Wednesday were seen in a number of Afghan regions such as Kabul, Nangarhar, Bamyan, Herat, Laghman, and Kandahar, among others.