Pakistan’s military confirmed Sunday that five soldiers and 25 terrorists were killed in fierce weekend clashes along the volatile Afghanistan border in Kurram and North Waziristan districts. The infiltrators, attempting to cross from Afghan soil on Friday and Saturday, were neutralized in coordinated operations, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated. The attacks, labeled as "Fitna al Khwarij" assaults backed by foreign sponsors, have cast a dark shadow over ongoing diplomatic efforts in Istanbul to prevent all-out war.

The ISPR accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to curb cross-border terrorism, stating the incursions "raise serious questions about Kabul’s commitment to regional stability." Taliban spokespersons remained silent on the incident, though they have consistently rejected claims of harboring militants and condemned Pakistani airstrikes as violations of sovereignty. The clashes follow a deadly escalation earlier this month—the worst since the Taliban’s 2021 return—triggering artillery duels and airstrikes until a fragile Doha-brokered truce last Sunday.

In Istanbul, senior delegations from both nations convened Sunday under Turkish mediation to salvage peace. Pakistan’s team, led by foreign ministry officials, demanded verifiable action against TTP sanctuaries in Kunar and Nangarhar. Afghan representatives pushed for an end to Pakistani drone incursions and shelling into Paktika and Khost. Sources say a draft framework includes joint border patrols and intelligence-sharing, but trust remains fractured.

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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned Saturday that failure in Istanbul would mean "open war," while praising the current ceasefire’s resilience. The Kurram fighting saw Pakistani forces use helicopter gunships and heavy artillery, destroying three militant staging posts. Local tribal elders report 12 civilian injuries from stray fire, prompting emergency aid convoys. With over 1,800 terror incidents in Pakistan this year—80% linked to Afghan soil—the border remains a powder keg.

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