Afghan forces reportedly opened unprovoked fire along multiple points of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Saturday, prompting a swift and decisive response from the Pakistan Army, according to security sources. Incidents of aggression were reported in key border areas including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral, and Baramcha.
Sources confirmed that Pakistan Army border posts, operating on high alert, engaged the attacking positions with full force. The retaliatory action reportedly destroyed several Afghan posts and inflicted heavy losses on Afghan troops and Fitna Al-Khawarij fighters. Taliban-aligned militants reportedly abandoned multiple posts and left behind several bodies while retreating from the affected areas.
Officials stated that dozens of Afghan soldiers and Khawarij were killed in the counteraction. The attacks coincided with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, raising concerns about the timing and intent of the aggression.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated due to the Afghan interim government’s reluctance to curb terrorist groups operating from its territory, particularly amid a surge in cross-border attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan to prevent its soil from being used by groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The porous 2,500-kilometre border holds significance for trade and regional relations, but terrorist activity remains a major concern. Pakistan has reported these developments to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), citing links between Afghan authorities and the TTP, including logistical, operational, and financial support.
Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasized that Afghanistan must seal the border to prevent its territory from being exploited by non-state actors.
He highlighted India’s use of Afghan soil for proxy operations against Pakistan and noted that a large cache of weapons left after the US withdrawal has fallen into the hands of militant groups.
Pakistan has also engaged multiple international stakeholders, including the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and UAE, to address the cross-border threats and ensure regional stability. The DG ISPR reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its borders and providing evidence of militant activity to Afghan authorities.
