Heavy cross-border shelling reported in KP's Mohmand

On Thursday, Mohmand district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, experienced heavy cross-border shelling in Baizai tehsil, causing widespread fear and anxiety among residents living near the border. A police officer confirmed to Dawn that intermittent firing from heavy weapons had been reported in the Shandara area, triggering panic in the affected communities. The exact cause of the exchange of fire remains unclear, with no official statements regarding casualties or property damage.

Cross-border shelling had been occurring intermittently in March and April following Pakistan's Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, launched on February 26 in response to unprovoked attacks by the Afghan Taliban. On April 8, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to avoid escalation in their armed conflict during a meeting hosted by China. Since the operation began, diplomatic contacts between the two nations have largely ceased.

Unfortunately, the violence has taken a toll on local residents. On April 15, a mortar shell fired from across the Afghan border struck a house in Kitkot village, Mohmand district, killing two children and a woman, and injuring three others. The tragic incident prompted police and security personnel to cordone off the area and launch a search operation.

Evidence from the site was collected to determine the type of device and its circumstances. Police are conducting further investigations, but the motive behind the attack remains unknown.