Days after a brief period of calm along the Pak-Afghan border, fresh clashes erupted in the Kurram sector as Pakistani security forces responded to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban regime and members of the ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ militant group, security sources confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the sources, Afghan Taliban fighters opened fire indiscriminately on Pakistani positions, provoking a strong and decisive response from the Pakistani army. The retaliatory strikes reportedly caused significant damage to several Taliban posts, and fires broke out across the border.
Security officials said two Taliban tanks were destroyed and fighters were seen fleeing their positions, leaving behind several bodies of their fallen comrades. During one of the operations, a moving tank was precisely targeted and destroyed – what sources described as a “highly professional and skillful strike”. Images of the destroyed tank are reportedly available.
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The latest exchange follows a two-day lull, with sources confirming that another Taliban post and a tank position have been eliminated during ongoing operations. During an intense engagement at the Shamshad post, the army destroyed a fourth tank position within an hour, underscoring the pace and intensity of the response.
Pakistani security forces also reportedly killed a key Fitna al-Khawarij commander during the ongoing action. Militant fighters – both the Taliban regime and its affiliates – are said to be in a state of panic and disarray, abandoning their posts in haste.
According to security officials, military operations against the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij continue with full vigor, focusing on eliminating hostile threats near the border and ensuring regional security.
The renewed fighting follows last week’s clash on the night of October 11-12, when Afghan Taliban forces, supported by “Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij elements”, launched an unprovoked attack along the border.
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In response to what it called a “cowardly action”, the Pakistani army said more than 200 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed in nighttime clashes, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The statement noted that the skirmishes caused significant damage to the infrastructure of Taliban posts, camps, headquarters and support networks “ranging from tactical to operational depth along the border.”
“In the interest of regional peace and security, Pakistan urges the Taliban government to take prompt and verifiable steps to dismantle terrorist groups – including FAK, FAH and ISKP/Daesh – operating from Afghan soil,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan closed border crossings with Afghanistan on Sunday after exchanges of fire between forces on both sides.
