KABUL – Afghan tribesmen on Monday returned a Pakistani soldier theycaptured in a deadly skirmish along the countries’ border, as well as thebodies of five soldiers, the governor of Afghanistan’s Khost province said.

The soldier and the bodies were handed to Pakistani troops, said Khostgovernor Hukum Khan Habibi.

The dispute arose over Pakistan’s work on a fence intended to span nearlyall of the disputed 2,500-km (1,550-mile) border, much of it mountainousand porous. Afghan officials have alleged that Pakistani troops crossedonto Afghanistan soil, prompting firing on Sunday by border forces and thelocal tribal force.

The two sides later agreed on a ceasefire.

Border skirmishes in the area are common, although detention of a foreignsoldier is rare. Each national government alleges that the other allowssheltering of Taliban militants who stage cross-border attacks.

The tribesmen handle security in their Zazi Maidan district of Khost.

The Pakistani military has previously said that two of its soldiers werekilled. An Afghan army commander has said two tribesmen were killed in theskirmish.

A spokesman for the Pakistani military could not be immediately reached. -Agencies