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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani forces repelled an &ldquo;unprovoked&rdquo; cross-border assault overnight and inflicted heavy losses on Afghan Taliban fighters and affiliated militants, the military&rsquo;s media wing said, estimating more than 200 enemy fighters neutralized while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Afghan Taliban fighters, joined by Fitna al-Khawarij, a militant faction that Islamabad identifies as Indian-sponsored proxies of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), launched a coordinated attack along multiple sectors of the Pak-Afghan frontier on the night of October 11&ndash;12.&nbsp;The assault included heavy firing and limited ground raids aimed at destabilizing border districts to facilitate infiltration of terrorist elements, ISPR said in a detailed statement issued Sunday.&nbsp;&ldquo;Exercising the right of self-defence, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively all along the border and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban forces and affiliated Khwarij,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;Precision fires and strikes, as well as physical raids, were directed against Taliban camps, posts, terrorist training facilities and support networks operating from Afghan territory.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement added that 21 hostile positions on the Afghan side were briefly captured and multiple terrorist training centres &ldquo;used to plan and facilitate attacks against Pakistan&rdquo; were rendered inoperative.&nbsp;&nbsp;23 Pakistani soldiers &ldquo;embraced martyrdom while defending the territorial integrity of the motherland,&rdquo; while 29 others were wounded.&nbsp;According to ISPR&rsquo;s post-operation assessment, more than 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated terrorists were killed and many more injured in retaliatory strikes that caused &ldquo;extensive infrastructural damage to Taliban posts, camps, headquarters and support networks along the border, ranging from tactical to operational depth.&rdquo;&nbsp;Indian angle underscoredIn a strongly worded section of the release, the military&rsquo;s media wing highlighted what it described as India&rsquo;s growing involvement in Afghan-based terrorism directed against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Last night&rsquo;s episode vindicates Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing position that the Taliban Government is actively facilitating the terrorists,&rdquo; ISPR said. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKz4Z-2EcrI?si=QHHyC8uH5DVAPVNH" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;&ldquo;If the Taliban Government continues to sponsor terrorist outfits, in cohorts with India, for the shortsighted objective of destabilizing the region, the people and the State of Pakistan will not rest until the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is completely eliminated.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement noted that the border provocation coincided with the visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi, &ldquo;the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region,&rdquo; where India had recently announced plans to upgrade bilateral engagement with the Taliban regime. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPspi-oDdV1/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1064&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F1272#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4456653.600000024%2C%22ls%22%3A1149.9000000357628%2C%22le%22%3A1171.199999988079%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="871" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;We have noted with concern that this serious provocation has occurred during the visit of the Taliban Foreign Minister to India,&rdquo; ISPR added, calling on the Taliban government to take &ldquo;immediate and verifiable actions to neutralize terrorist groups, including FAK, FAH and ISKP/Daesh, operating from Afghan territory.&rdquo;&nbsp;The military reaffirmed that Pakistan &ldquo;will continue to exercise its right to defend its people by persistent neutralization of terror targets,&rdquo; and urged Kabul to prioritize &ldquo;the well-being, peace and prosperity of the Afghan people over irresponsible sabre-rattling.&rdquo;&nbsp;Clashes across multiple sectorsSecurity officials said Afghan troops opened unprovoked fire late Saturday night across several sectors of the frontier, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan, allegedly to facilitate infiltration by Khawarij formations linked to the TTP.&nbsp;Pakistani positions retaliated &ldquo;with full force&rdquo; using artillery, tanks and air assets, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghan forces are in a state of panic due to the intense retaliation,&rdquo; one source said. &ldquo;Several posts have been abandoned as a result of heavy losses. Afghan soldiers fled, leaving behind multiple bodies.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security officials said Afghanistan has formally requested a halt to Pakistan&rsquo;s counter-action as precision targeting continues against Khawarij and Daesh elements operating from Afghan territory.&nbsp;Video footage obtained by Pakistan TV Digital showed fires raging at several destroyed outposts, with captured installations strewn with military gear. In one clip, an Afghan Taliban fighter appeared to surrender to Pakistani troops.&nbsp;&lsquo;A godsend opportunity&rsquo;Defence analyst Hasaan Khan said the episode demonstrated that Pakistan had both the legal and strategic right to eliminate terror sanctuaries across the border.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a godsend opportunity for Pakistan,&rdquo; Khan told Pakistan TV.&nbsp;&ldquo;The initiative has been taken by the Afghan Taliban; they started the war. They attacked Pakistani posts and violated international law. Now Pakistan must strike the areas where, based on our intelligence, the TTP and terrorist training camps are located.&rdquo;&nbsp;Khan described Muttaqi&rsquo;s recent remarks against Pakistan as &ldquo;jingoistic&rdquo; and &ldquo;provocative,&rdquo; arguing that no Pakistani political leader &ldquo;religious or secular,&rdquo; would tolerate such rhetoric. He added that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s hand&rdquo; was evident behind the latest escalation.&nbsp;&ldquo;India wants Pakistan and Afghanistan to be in actual conflict,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan Taliban must understand Indian intentions,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;India&rsquo;s only interest in Afghanistan is to harm Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;They have betrayed every Afghan government in the past, from Dr. Najibullah to Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani.&rdquo;&nbsp;Political leadership stands with Armed ForcesPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday lauded the Armed Forces for their &ldquo;strong and effective action&rdquo; in response to Afghanistan&rsquo;s provocations and for successfully targeting terrorist hideouts across the border.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are proud of the professional expertise of the Pakistan Armed Forces,&rdquo; he said in a statement issued by his office in Lahore. &ldquo;There will be no compromise on Pakistan&rsquo;s defence, and every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response.&rdquo;&nbsp;The prime minister paid tribute to the 23 security personnel who embraced martyrdom, prayed for the elevation of their ranks and for the speedy recovery of the wounded, and expressed condolences to their families.&nbsp;He reiterated that Pakistan has repeatedly provided Afghanistan with intelligence on terrorist elements, including Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan, operating from Afghan soil.&nbsp;&ldquo;Terrorist organizations are receiving support from elements present in Afghanistan,&rdquo; the prime minister said, urging the Taliban caretaker government to ensure its territory is not used against Pakistan. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPr3CInDWOv/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1064&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F1272#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A4503209.699999988%2C%22ls%22%3A1149.9000000357628%2C%22le%22%3A1171.199999988079%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="871" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div> <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"> </div>Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned Afghanistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;blatant violation of international law.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The fire and blood being played out from Afghanistan have links to our perennial enemy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Afghanistan will be given a strong, decisive response &mdash; just as India was.&rdquo;&nbsp;Border crossings closedFollowing the clashes, Pakistan temporarily closed all major crossings along the 2,600-kilometre Pak-Afghan frontier, including Torkham and Chaman, as well as Kharlachi, Angoor Adda and Ghulam Khan, officials confirmed.&nbsp;In the wake of the rising tensions, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar on Sunday voiced concern over the escalation, urging both nations to show restraint and pursue dialogue. Riyadh said it was &ldquo;following with concern the tensions and clashes witnessed in the border areas,&rdquo; while Tehran and Doha also called for diplomacy to prevent further escalation. With additional inputs from Reuters, APP and Pakistan TV

Security

Heavy clashes erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as Pakistani forces repelled Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij attacks, neutralizing over 200 militants, capturing multiple positions, and sustaining 23 soldier fatalities while ongoing tensions continue to threaten regional stability.

Over 200 Taliban, affiliates killed; 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred in border clashes: Pak Army

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday strongly condemned Afghanistan&rsquo;s recent acts of aggression and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve to safeguard its national interests, regional sovereignty, and security.&nbsp;In a statement, President Zardari said Pakistan would never accept any &ldquo;controversial or misleading stance&rdquo; on Jammu and Kashmir, adding that India&rsquo;s claims regarding the disputed territory were illegal and contrary to international law and UN resolutions.&nbsp;He expressed regret that the Afghan leadership had &ldquo;turned away from the oppressed people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,&rdquo; calling it an injustice to both history and the Muslim Ummah.&nbsp;Zardari noted that the use of Afghan soil for attacks by the so-called &ldquo;Fitna-al-Khawarij&rdquo; &mdash; a reference to militant groups &mdash; was a documented fact acknowledged even in UN reports. He warned that the nexus between &ldquo;the Khawarij and India&rdquo; was targeting Pakistani civilians and security personnel.&nbsp;The president urged the Afghan leadership to take concrete steps against anti-Pakistan terrorist groups operating from its soil, stressing that terrorism was a shared regional challenge that could not be borne by one country alone.&nbsp;He reiterated that Pakistan would make no compromise on its sovereignty and had consistently extended all possible facilitation to Afghanistan in trade, economy, and connectivity.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mutual cooperation and economic partnership form the foundation for lasting peace and prosperity in the region,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan desired a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPspi-oDdV1/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F1265#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A1889589.199999988%2C%22ls%22%3A637.3999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A648.8999999761581%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1023" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</iframe></div>Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the cross-border aggression, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces were fully capable of defending every inch of the motherland.&nbsp;He said Islamabad had always acted with restraint and responsibility but would respond firmly to any violation of its sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;The government will take all necessary measures to protect Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity and ensure peace in the region,&rdquo; the prime minister added.&nbsp;The prime minister also lauded the Pakistan Army&rsquo;s swift and professional response under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying the forces not only repelled the aggression but also neutralized several enemy positions, forcing a retreat.&nbsp;He emphasized that Pakistan&rsquo;s defense was in strong hands and that the nation stood united with its security forces against any provocation. Dar urges Taliban to act against terrorists Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he was &ldquo;deeply concerned&rdquo; over the developments along the Pak‑Afghan border, calling unprovoked firing and raids by the Taliban government a &ldquo;serious provocation.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977301437160779869&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1265%2F&sessionId=3cf72649712ea0166c123d48be461eb7eec96caf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The statement said Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory strikes targeted Taliban infrastructure and aimed to neutralize Fitna‑al‑Khawarij and Fitna‑al‑Hindustan terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.&nbsp;He said that the defensive response was not directed at the peace‑loving Afghan civilian population and that, unlike Taliban forces, Pakistan was exercising &ldquo;extreme caution&rdquo; to avoid civilian casualties.&nbsp;Dar also reiterated its long‑standing position that combating terrorism is a shared regional responsibility and said it had repeatedly provided Kabul with information on terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory.

President Zardari says Pakistan would never accept any 'controversial or misleading stance' on Jammu and Kashmir. PM Shehbaz says armed forces are fully capable of defending every inch of the motherland.

President, PM condemn Afghan aggression, vow to defend national sovereignty

Muhammad Imad Abbas

Mariam Ellahi

Muhammad Usman Amin

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI/PESHAWAR: Afghanistan has requested Pakistan to halt its &ldquo;heavy counteraction&rdquo; after the Pakistan Army launched a strong and sustained response to unprovoked cross-border firing from Afghan forces, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;According to the sources, Afghan troops carried out unprovoked firing late Saturday night across multiple points along the Pak-Afghan border, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan, allegedly to facilitate the infiltration of Khawarij formations, a faction Islamabad identifies as Indian-sponsored proxies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;Pakistan Army positions responded with full force using artillery, tanks, and aerial assets, effectively targeting Afghan military posts and militant hideouts.&nbsp;&ldquo;A strong and decisive response from the Pakistan Army against Afghan forces is ongoing. Afghan forces are in a state of panic due to the intense retaliation,&rdquo; security sources said. &ldquo;Several Afghan posts have been abandoned as a result of heavy losses.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghan soldiers fled, leaving behind multiple bodies at their posts following Pakistan&rsquo;s effective and intense response.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security sources confirmed that Afghanistan has formally requested Pakistan to halt its counteraction, as Pakistani forces continue to target positions linked to Khawarij and Daesh elements operating from Afghan territory.&nbsp;The sources further revealed that Pakistani forces employed a combination of precision artillery and drone strikes to destroy multiple Afghan posts. &ldquo;The Army&rsquo;s timely and decisive action has neutralized key militant hideouts under the protection of Afghan authorities,&rdquo; one official added.&nbsp;District administration officials confirmed that several missiles were fired from the Afghan side targeting civilian areas across the border, prompting Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;measured but powerful&rdquo; military response to protect its citizens.&nbsp;Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned Afghanistan&rsquo;s unprovoked firing, calling it a &ldquo;blatant violation of international law.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s brave forces have shown, with an immediate and effective response, that any provocation will not be tolerated,&rdquo; Naqvi said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our forces are vigilant, and Afghanistan is being answered brick for brick. The fire and blood being played out from Afghanistan have links to our perennial enemy,&rdquo; he added, referring to India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghanistan will be given a strong, decisive response, just as India was, so it will not dare cast a covetous eye toward Pakistan,&rdquo; the minister warned.&nbsp;Defence analyst Hassan Khan told Pakistan TV that the current Afghan behavior reflected a deep betrayal of Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing support.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan hosted millions of Afghans for decades. Now, their behavior has completely changed,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;Afghanistan is harbouring and providing hideouts to groups like the TTP, BLA, and Majeed Brigade. Their forces are now giving cover to Fitna al-Khawarij to harm Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Another analyst, Agha Iqrar, stressed that Pakistan must reassess its Afghan strategy.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan Taliban are not only hosting, harbouring, and funding TTP and Fitna al-Khawarij, but more than 42 militant groups are operating from Afghan soil,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;Pakistan must take decisive action and redefine its Afghan policy.&rdquo;&nbsp;Taliban officials in Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, and Helmand confirmed to AFP that clashes were ongoing along several points of the border.&nbsp;The escalation follows two days after a deadly terrorist attack on the Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan, in which six policemen, including trainees, embraced martyrdom. According to ISPR, members of &ldquo;Fitna al-Khawarij&rdquo; rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the facility but were eliminated after an intense firefight.&nbsp;In the wake of the rising tensions, Saudi Arabia and Iran have both called for restraint and dialogue.&nbsp;The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a statement by its ministry of foreign affairs, said:&nbsp;&ldquo;The Kingdom is following with concern the tensions and clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. We urge both sides to exercise self-restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize dialogue and wisdom to preserve regional stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at strengthening peace and prosperity for the two brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples.&rdquo;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran&rsquo;s ministry of foreign affairs expressed similar concern, urging both countries to resolve their differences peacefully.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iran is closely monitoring developments and calls on both sides to engage diplomatically to prevent further escalation,&rdquo; an Iranian spokesperson said in Tehran. &ldquo;Peace and cooperation must prevail over confrontation.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security officials in Islamabad reiterated that Pakistan remains resolute in defending its sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;Any future aggression or attempt to aid terrorist infiltration will be met with a strong and immediate response,&rdquo; one senior source emphasized.

Islamabad’s security sources say Pakistan Army’s strong and coordinated retaliation destroyed multiple Afghan border posts, forcing Afghan troops to flee amid mounting casualties. The clashes follow recent militant attacks in Dera Ismail Khan linked to Afghanistan-based groups.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Afghanistan Border"

Over 200 Taliban, affiliates killed; 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred in border clashes: Pak Army

President, PM condemn Afghan aggression, vow to defend national sovereignty

Afghanistan urges Pakistan to halt ‘heavy counteraction’: security sources

Over 200 Taliban, affiliates killed; 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred in border clashes: Pak Army