Security forces thwart terrorists' attempt to infiltrate Pak-Afghan border in Kurram: security sources

Pakistani security forces prevented a terrorist group from infiltrating the country's Kurram province from Afghanistan, according to reports on Tuesday. The insurgents, believed to be members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, aimed to cross the border from Nangarhar and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan. Upon the failed infiltration attempt, the Afghan Taliban initiated unprovoked gunfire on Pakistani border checkpoints, as disclosed by security sources.

In response to the Taliban's aggression, Pakistani troops targeted several checkposts controlled by the Afghan Taliban and their defensive positions. As a result of this retaliatory action, some Afghan Taliban operatives fled their posts. Security forces had been closely monitoring the border situation and were ready to respond to any hostile actions.

Terrorism has experienced a resurgence in Pakistan since the Taliban took control in Kabul in 2021. The day before the reported incident, the information ministry announced that Pakistan had conducted airstrikes on terrorist sites in the Afghan border region, resulting in the deaths of over 28 terrorists. The ministry emphasized that these "calibrated" strikes were aimed at eliminating safe havens for terrorist organizations responsible for recent attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The airstrikes occurred after a major attack in the old Police Lines in Kurram's Kohat, which claimed 23 lives and injured approximately 100 others.

In an overnight clearance operation, eight terrorists were killed. On Sunday, two security officers and four others tragically lost their lives during a firefight between a security forces convoy and armed combatants, while eight terrorists were eliminated. Pakistan has repeatedly called upon the Taliban-led government in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP, which have been utilized for attacks in Pakistan. However, these pleas have reportedly been ignored.

A UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report, covering the period from December 16, 2025 to June 9, 2026, indicates that the Afghan Taliban's continued support for the TTP has led to an increase in the frequency and severity of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Despite these efforts, Kabul has taken some initial steps to curb the group's activities. The report also highlights growing operational and facilitation ties among the TTP, Al Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIL-K), and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).