Afghan soldiers have been accused of crossing into Pakistan and killing two local tribesmen while in pursuit of suspected Taliban fighters.

At least 30 Afghan soldiers chasing suspected Taliban fighters had crossed into the Upper Kurram region in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, government and intelligence officials in Islamabad told the Associated Press news agency.

The Afghan Defence Ministry denies claims by Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Afghan soldiers killed two tribesmen while trading gunfire with the suspected fighters in the border village of Muqbal.