Pakistan has warned of a strong and immediate response after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly opened unprovoked fire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, escalating already fragile ties between the two neighbours.
Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, said Tuesday night that Afghan Taliban fighters initiated firing in the Torkham and Tirah sub-sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, Pakistan’s security forces responded promptly and effectively, silencing the gunfire from the Afghan side.
Zaidi stressed that Pakistan remains fully prepared to defend its territory. He added that any further provocation would trigger a “severe and immediate” response. Moreover, he reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to protecting citizens and safeguarding territorial integrity.
Terrorism concerns deepen mistrust
Meanwhile, the latest flare-up comes amid growing friction between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused militant groups of using Afghan soil to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Recently, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes against suspected militant hideouts along the border. According to security sources, the operation targeted camps linked to Fitna al Khawarij, a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, as well as Daesh-Khorasan affiliates. Officials claimed the strikes killed more than 80 militants.
The renewed tensions have also revived memories of clashes in late 2025, when both sides exchanged heavy fire before agreeing to a ceasefire. That truce, mediated in Doha with support from Turkiye, aimed to curb cross-border terrorism.
However, follow-up talks failed to deliver lasting relief, largely due to persistent mistrust between the two countries. As tensions simmer once again, observers fear that even minor incidents along the volatile frontier could quickly spiral into a broader confrontation.
