Pakistani forces neutralized a coordinated assault by Khawarij militants and Afghan Taliban near Kurram and North Waziristan. The clash, involving heavy weaponry, resulted in significant militant casualties, with Pakistani troops emerging unscathed. The incident underscores the increasing challenges posed by cross-border terrorism.
BY PC Bureau
akistani security forces thwarted a coordinated infiltration attempt by Khawarij militants and Afghan Taliban fighters targeting military posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram and North Waziristan regions, security sources reported on Saturday.
A group of 20-25 militants launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistani border posts using heavy weaponry, with Afghan Taliban coordination. In a swift response, Pakistani forces successfully repelled the attack, neutralized the infiltration attempt, and delivered a decisive counterstrike.
#BREAKING 🇦🇫⚡🏳️ AFGHANISTAN – Massive deployment of Taliban who have declared war on Pakistan
Some sources suggest that Taliban have already arrived on the battlefield inside Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/t3R9iJw00S
— Monitor𝕏 (@MonitorX99800) December 27, 2024
Reports indicate that over 15 militants, including Afghan Taliban members, were killed in the operation, while several others sustained injuries. Pakistani forces also forced the Taliban to abandon six key positions along the border, inflicting significant losses on their side.
Despite the intensity of the clash, Pakistani forces reported no fatalities, with only three soldiers injured. Initial assessments suggest substantial damage on the Afghan side, with additional casualties likely.
This development comes amidst a surge in terrorist activities within Pakistan since the Taliban’s interim administration assumed control in Afghanistan. The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, which share borders with Afghanistan, have faced a sharp rise in attacks targeting security personnel and law enforcement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Islamabad’s position during a cabinet meeting, stating, “We desire good ties with Kabul, but the TTP must be stopped from killing our innocent people. This is our red line.”
Taliban puts many Pakistani Army posts on FIRE.
Afghan Taliban attacks Pakistan at multiple locations. Heavy Clashes ongoing.
19 Pakistani soldiers and 3 Afghan civilians killed in border clashes with the Taliban.
🇵🇰🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/q3sGZFgROF
— sumit 🇮🇳 (@sumit45678901) December 28, 2024
The diplomatic push is paralleled by intensified military operations. Earlier this week, Pakistani forces eliminated 13 terrorists in three separate operations in KP, following an intelligence-based raid in South Waziristan that killed another 13 militants.
A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlights a dramatic escalation in violence in the third quarter of 2024. The period saw a 90% increase in fatalities due to terrorism and counter-terrorism campaigns, with 722 people killed and 615 injured in 328 incidents, predominantly in KP and Balochistan.
In 2024, Pakistan’s military has reported the deaths of 383 soldiers and 925 militants during various clashes, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict along its western border.
