Security forces have killed three terrorists during an infiltration attempt at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Dir district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as reported by the military’s media wing on Monday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement detailed that the movement of the terrorists was detected late Sunday night. The infiltrators were surrounded and engaged in an intense firefight, resulting in their deaths.
The ISPR emphasized Pakistan’s ongoing demand for effective border management from the interim Afghan government. Pakistan expects its neighbor to fulfill its obligations by preventing the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to securing its borders and eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country,” the statement read.
This incident follows a series of operations earlier in May where the Pakistan Army reported killing 29 terrorists along the Pak-Afghan border amid a surge in terrorist activities originating from Afghan territory. Last week, security forces thwarted an attempt by ten terrorists to breach Bannu Cantonment, forcing the attackers to use an explosive-laden vehicle against the cantonment’s perimeter wall.
The ISPR attributed this attack to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, which has previously used Afghan soil to orchestrate attacks inside Pakistan. In response, Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the deputy head of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad, demanding a thorough investigation and immediate action against those responsible for the Bannu attack.
Recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been exacerbated by the activities of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and frequent border skirmishes. The Afghan defense ministry reacted strongly to remarks by Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif about potentially targeting TTP hideouts in Afghanistan.
Despite diplomatic efforts, including a meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials in Doha aimed at easing tensions, the relationship between the two countries remains strained. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban delegation leader at the Doha conference, expressed hope for improving relations but also highlighted the ongoing challenges in addressing security concerns along the border.
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