Pakistan Strikes Back: Taliban Posts Destroyed in Kurram Clash
Heavy fighting erupted in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in casualties and border tensions.
Pakistani troops clashed fiercely with Afghan Taliban fighters along the disputed border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 Pakistani soldiers and a senior militant commander. The heavy fighting erupted late Tuesday in the Kurram district after Taliban forces allegedly opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani border posts, damaging several positions, including at least one tank. This incident marks a sharp escalation in longstanding tensions between the two neighbours, exacerbated by cross-border militant activities.
The confrontation follows a series of attacks over the weekend, where Taliban-linked militants targeted Pakistani outposts, prompting a robust response from Islamabad. Pakistan's military reported destroying multiple Taliban posts, such as the Shamsadar position, and forcing fighters to retreat. Officials claim more than 200 Taliban and allied militants were killed in the counteroffensive. Among the casualties was a high-ranking commander from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistani authorities derisively refer to as "Fitna al-Khawarij". The TTP, a Sunni Islamist group formed in 2007, has long operated from Afghan soil, launching incursions into Pakistan and contributing to regional instability.
In a diplomatic briefing for resident ambassadors in Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch underscored the nation's commitment to safeguarding its borders. "Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and its unwavering resolve to protect its territorial integrity and national security remain paramount," she stated. Kabul, however, portrayed its actions as retaliatory, accusing Pakistan of conducting unauthorised air raids inside Afghan territory the previous week—a charge Islamabad has firmly denied. These reciprocal allegations highlight the fragility of Pak-Afghan relations, strained further by the Taliban's 2021 takeover in Afghanistan and the subsequent resurgence of cross-border militancy.
The border, stretching over 2,600 kilometres and largely unmarked in tribal areas, has been a flashpoint for decades, fuelling cycles of violence and displacement. No immediate ceasefire was announced, and both sides reported ongoing vigilance. International observers, including the United Nations, have urged de-escalation to prevent broader spillover into South Asia's already volatile security landscape. As the dust settles, questions linger over potential diplomatic interventions to avert further bloodshed.
Also Read: Diwali in Delhi to See Green Crackers Despite Experts Warning of Air Risks
