Pakistani security forces thwarted a cross-border attack from Afghanistan early Thursday, killing at least seven Taliban fighters near the town of Kharlachi in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to military officials.
Taliban militants armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades attempted to breach the border fence before dawn. Pakistani troops, on high alert following intelligence reports of increased militant activity, engaged the attackers in a firefight lasting several hours. One Pakistani soldier sustained minor injuries. The remaining attackers retreated into Afghanistan.
Security officials said the attack appeared well-coordinated and aimed at testing Pakistan's defensive capabilities. It marks a serious escalation in border tensions since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Pakistan has repeatedly pressed the Taliban government in Kabul to secure its side of the 1,600-mile Durand Line border. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a distinct group responsible for numerous deadly attacks inside Pakistan. The TTP often uses Afghan territory as a launchpad for operations across the porous border. The Taliban denies the accusations, saying it will not allow its soil to be used against neighboring countries.
The Pakistani military has increased surveillance and troop deployments in sensitive border areas following the attack. Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is scheduled to address the National Assembly next week on border security strategy and diplomatic efforts with the Afghan interim government.
