PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Army strongly responded and destroyed several security posts of the Afghan Taliban, followed by unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces and members of the militant group referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij” along the Pak-Afghan border in the Kurram district.
According to security sources, the exchange began when Afghan forces and militants opened fire at Pakistan posts. While responding, the Pakistan Army retaliated with full force, damaging the Afghan Taliban posts.
As a result of the retaliatory action, several posts of the Afghan Taliban caught fire, and heavy losses were inflicted.
Sources claimed that at least one Taliban tank was also destroyed during the exchange.
Military officials have not confirmed any casualties on the Pakistani side. However, the situation remains tense in the border areas, with heightened alert levels across forward posts.
Relative calm observed on Pak-Afghan border Aafter military exchange
After the retaliatory strike by Pakistan, complete silence reigns on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The guns from the Afghan side have fallen silent, and Pakistan is also not taking any action.
Read also: High-profile Pakistani delegation postpones its visit to Afghanistan
A high-profile Pakistani delegation has abruptly postponed its visit to Afghanistan. The delegation was to leave for Kabul on Sunday to discuss issues related to terrorism, border security, and regional stability with Afghan officials.
Sources said that a four-member high-profile delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was to leave for Kabul on Sunday. The delegation also included top security officials. The purpose of the visit was to discuss important issues such as border security, terrorism, and regional stability. The Foreign Office confirmed the postponement of the visit on Monday and said that a new date would be announced later. There was no official statement from the Afghan embassy on the matter either. Some Afghan media reports are claiming that the Afghan government has refused to issue visas to the Pakistani delegation. According to these reports, the Taliban government took this decision due to the tension arising from the recent border clashes.
According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, Pakistan had retaliated in self-defence due to “unauthorised firing” from Afghan territory on the night of October 11-12, in which elements involved in terrorism suffered casualties and property damage. The Foreign Office says that these operations were carried out against those elements who were planning and supporting terrorist attacks against Pakistan, and the safety of citizens was ensured in these operations. Pakistan maintains that it seeks peaceful and mutually respectful relations with Afghanistan, but is capable of responding effectively to any potential provocation. It is not yet clear how long the Pakistani delegation’s visit will be postponed or when a new date will be announced.
