Pakistan gives ‘effective’ response to new ‘unprovoked fire’ from Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD:

Security forces responded decisively to unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, security sources said on Thursday. The forces targeted Taliban positions across several sectors, including Chitral, Bajaur, Tirah (Khyber), Mohmand and Arandu (Chakwal), inflicting heavy casualties and destroying enemy outposts.

According to security sources, Pakistani forces hit Taliban checkposts in the Chitral sector with precision, completely neutralizing the positions. In Bajaur, two Taliban outposts were destroyed. Officials said the enemy elements were forced to retreat in disarray after the counter-attacks.

Security forces continued a strong retaliatory operation in the Garsal sector of Mohmand along the Pak-Afghan border, according to security sources.

In the Garsal sector, Pakistani forces targeted and destroyed Taliban checkpoints, killing three more militants.

Verified reports indicate that the total number of Afghan Taliban casualties has risen to around 30, security sources said.

Officials confirmed that Pakistan’s security forces are fully prepared to defend the border and respond decisively to any aggression.

The incident followed an attempted attack by Taliban-operated quadcopters on Pakistani security checkpoints that was foiled, security sources added.

The aggression began with the Taliban opening fire at various points along the border. Pakistani forces responded with coordinated artillery, small arms and drone operations, targeting Taliban hideouts and eliminating threats. Security sources confirmed that the troops are fully prepared to defend the border and respond firmly to any aggression.

Exclusive footage from the Kurram sector shows Frontier Corps personnel engaging Taliban positions with expert precision and neutralizing insurgent threats along the border. Security sources added that the Taliban have circulated false claims and fabricated videos on social media in an attempt to distort the events.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has allegedly been circulating misleading reports, while confirmed updates from government sources are being shared in real time.

Security sources noted that accounts linked to India’s R&AW have also tried to amplify false narratives on social media in support of the Taliban.

Authorities urged the public not to pay attention to fake news. Pakistani security forces, they added, respond effectively and timely to all hostile actions.

Authorities confirmed that Pakistani forces remain vigilant and committed to protecting the border, stressing that any aggression will be met with a robust and proportionate response. Security officials have urged the public to remain vigilant while ensuring that the border remains secure under continuous surveillance and operational readiness.

Pakistani soldiers deployed along the Pak-Afghan border reaffirmed their commitment to defend the homeland.

A soldier at the Bajaur border said that firing was carried out from the Afghan side during the night and was repeated afterwards. “The Afghan Taliban have no idea what nation they are challenging,” he added.

He further stated that in the retaliatory action several Taliban hideouts were attacked and destroyed. “Our nation does not fear anyone,” the soldier said, adding, “if anyone provokes us at the behest of India, the consequences will be dire.”

“Pakistan knows how to defend itself,” he concluded.

The Ministry of Information also confirmed the development on X, saying that the security forces gave “an immediate and effective response” to the “unprovoked action” by the Afghan Taliban along the Pak-Afghan border.

“The Afghan Taliban miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire at several locations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which was met with an immediate and effective response by Pakistan’s security forces,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added that Taliban regime forces are being punished in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors. “Early reports confirm heavy casualties on the Afghan side with several posts and equipment destroyed.”

The ministry reiterated that Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens.

Talal criticizes Taliban’s ‘gorilla mentality’

Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry accused the Afghan Taliban regime of launching attacks in parts of KP and said Pakistan gave an “appropriate response” and would share further details as the situation develops.

Speaking on a private news channel, Chaudhry described the Afghan Taliban regime as having a “gorilla mentality” and alleged that it had launched attacks in certain areas of the province.

“What kind of state makes 15, 16, 17-year-old kids kill themselves and then celebrate it? They send kids on suicide missions — do any states treat their kids like that?” he said.

He emphasized that no one would be allowed to attack Pakistan’s sovereignty or peace and asserted that the country would use all available means to defend itself.

The minister said Pakistan had sought to resolve issues through dialogue in view of longstanding relations with the neighboring country. But since the negotiations had not yielded results, he said, the issues were now being dealt with through third parties.

Commenting on the firing from light and heavy vehicles, he said it served to show the world who was behind the attacks. “They have done this before several times – they provide cover and during that time they try to infiltrate small groups,” he added.

Referring to earlier claims by Afghan Taliban regime spokesmen about capturing Pakistani checkpoints, the minister dismissed them as false and said the Taliban lacked the courage to do so.

He warned that Pakistan would respond in a manner similar to how “an enemy in the east was taught a lesson for a long time,” adding that the Taliban would also be taught a lesson on the western border so that they would not attempt such actions again.

The development comes a day after the Afghan Taliban regime launched unprovoked firing, prompting security forces to respond immediately and halt exchanges along the international border.

“The Afghan Taliban regime initiated unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Torkham and Tirah sub-sectors. Pakistan’s security forces responded immediately and effectively and quelled the Taliban’s aggression,” said Mosharraf Zaidi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s foreign media spokesman.

Analysts view the recent incidents of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan – including the attack on a federal convoy in Karak district a few days ago, the burning of policemen, the martyrdom of DSP Asad Mehmood in Shakardara (Kohat) and the suicide attack in Bhakkar – as an open war by Afghanistan against the state of Pakistan.

According to them, these suicide attacks during Ramazan reflect that these terrorists have no connection with Islam or Pashtun traditions. For them, innocent human lives have no value in the pursuit of their malicious and self-imposed ideology, they added.

Instead of responding to Pakistan’s consistent demands to stop the patronage of “Fitna al-Khawarij”, the Afghan Taliban regime’s open aggression against Pakistan amounts to challenging Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pakistan will respond to this declared war by the Afghan Taliban regime with full national resolve and unity. Pakistan’s security forces, backed by full public support, are determined and united in eliminating all elements that threaten national security.

This is a development story.