20 terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij and Afghan Taliban fighters killed: ISPR
In a major escalation along the Pak-Afghan border, Afghan Taliban fighters, in coordination with terrorists linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, launched attacks at three different points near the Chaman border early Wednesday morning.
The Pakistani army responded quickly, killing at least 20 terrorists and forcing the rest to retreat, security sources said.
According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack took place at four different locations in Spin Boldak area of Balochistan.
During the attack, terrorists blew up the Pak-Afghan Friendship Gate, a key crossing point that facilitates trade and movement of civilians between the two countries. Officials said the destruction of the gate demonstrated the Afghan Taliban’s opposition to legitimate cross-border trade and regional stability.
The coordinated assault targeted both border security infrastructure and Pakistani military positions. The counter-offensive by Pakistani forces repelled the attackers, inflicting significant losses on the terrorists. The terrorists used neighboring villages as hideouts and civilians as human shields. A tactic increasingly used by the Afghan Taliban and Khawarij elements to avoid direct engagement, security officials said.
Fitna al-Khawarij is the state term for the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since the war with India in May 2025.
Read: Pakistan breaks ranks with Taliban regime after cross-border clashes
In related news, the previous night, Pakistan Army units foiled another infiltration attempt in the Kurram sector, where Taliban and Khawarij fighters reportedly attempted to breach Pakistani defenses.
During the ensuing operation, Pakistani forces destroyed eight Taliban posts and six armored tanks, killing several insurgents. Eight posts, including six tanks, were destroyed in the effective but proportionate response by Pakistani troops. Several caches of American-made weapons were also seized at the site.
The area in and around Kurram has since remained calm, and no further hostilities have been reported following Pakistan’s retaliation.
The situation remains tense in the border town of Chaman, where Afghan forces opened fire without provocation on civilian areas, injuring at least 10 people, including two children. The injured were immediately transferred to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving medical treatment.
According to security sources, two members of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed by Afghan Taliban fire, while several others remain under treatment at Chaman Hospital. In view of the situation, all educational institutions in Chaman were closed for the day and the ongoing polio vaccination drive was suspended.
In retaliation, Pakistani forces targeted suspected Afghan Taliban positions located in Wesh Mandi and Spin Boldak across the border. Reports indicate that two people were killed and ten injured in the counterattack.
Security sources say intense cross-border shooting continues, creating an atmosphere of fear and panic among residents of border areas. Residents were instructed to stay indoors.
Dilbar Khan, a local journalist from Chaman, reported that the situation remains tense in the area that was seized. Two Pakistanis were martyred and many others injured. The border has been closed for three days, paralyzing all commercial activities.
He added that thousands of Afghan nationals, who were supposed to be repatriated, are now stranded due to border closures. However, they have been temporarily hosted at a designated site called Master Plan, where they are housed.
Learn more: Pakistan asks Taliban to control terrorist networks
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expresses concern over these provocations by the Afghan Taliban, “Fitna-e-Hindustan” and “Fitna al-Khawarij” along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
The Prime Minister congratulated the security forces for successfully foiling an attack by the Afghan Taliban in the Kurram sector.
The Pakistan Army gave a firm and appropriate response to the unprovoked aggression of the Afghan Taliban, Shehbaz said. The sovereignty and integrity of the country will be defended at all costs, he added.
Shehbaz further said that using Afghan soil to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan is highly condemnable.
Intelligence reports suggest more terrorists are regrouping in Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak region, raising concerns about further cross-border assaults.
