*ISLAMABAD:* Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed on a truce aftercross-border clashes reportedly claimed the lives of at least four peopleon both sides of the border, Afghan officials said late Sunday.

Pakistan Army said at least two soldiers were killed and five othersinjured in firing in Kurram tribal region from the Afghan side.

Governor of Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province Hukam Khan Habibi wasquoted as saying that two persons were also killed in the border districtof Zazai Maidan. Habibi told BBC Pashto service that the clashes stopped inthe afternoon as both sides declared a ceasefire after hours ofcross-border engagement.”Fighting was stopped on Pakistan’s request,” thegovernor said.

Police Chief in Khost Abdul Hanan confirmed that one security man waskilled in the firing.

High level contacts were made to defuse the situation. However, he did notoffer any comment on Afghan claim about the ceasefire. The ISPR also didnot respond to a query posted to them.

“We approached Afghan side at the high level to stop fire from their sideon the fencing and other work underway on our side. The work we areundertaking is to strengthen our border structures,” the official said,wishing not to be identified.

An army statement said that the Frontier Corps (FC) troops were fired uponfrom the Afghan side in Kurram tribal agency.”Troops were carrying outroutine surveillance along Pak-Afghan border for plugging of gaps andmaking necessary preparations for starting fencing in that area,” astatement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.”

Two FC soldiers martyred and 5 injured. Pakistani troops are exercisingmaximum restraint so as to avoid any Afghan civilian casualties. Militaryengagement is underway to defuse situation,” the statement said.