ISLAMABAD: Afghan security forces initiated unprovoked firing at Angoor Adda, which was met with a swift response from the Pakistan Army on Monday. Pakistani security forces successfully destroyed multiple enemy posts in the retaliatory action.
Escalation Along the Border
In a serious escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces in the Angoor Adda area, specifically in Zolul Khel, prompted a strong and immediate response from the Pakistan Army, according to security sources. Initial reports indicate that Afghan security elements carried out indiscriminate firing across the border, targeting both military and civilian positions. The Pakistan Army responded with precision and effectiveness, reportedly destroying several Afghan security posts used to launch the attack.
Infiltration Attempts Thwarted
Security officials stated that attempted infiltration by militants affiliated with what authorities describe as “Fitna al-Khawarij” was decisively thwarted due to the army’s heightened vigilance and timely action. Following the failure of these infiltration attempts, Afghan Taliban forces resorted to targeting civilian populations in a display of frustration and retaliation.
The cross-border firing resulted in injuries to three civilians, including two women. All injured individuals were immediately shifted to a medical facility in Wana for urgent treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that emergency protocols were activated upon their arrival.
Impact on Civilians
The incident occurred in the broader area of South Waziristan, a sensitive border region that has witnessed periodic tensions in recent years. However, officials described the latest provocation as particularly alarming due to its direct impact on non-combatants. Local residents strongly condemned the Afghan firing, terming it an unjustified act of aggression. Tribal elders and community members demanded a firm and sustained response from Pakistani authorities to prevent future incidents and ensure the safety of civilians living along the border.
Link to Ongoing Operations
Security sources further linked the escalation to the aftermath of ongoing operations, including “Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq,” which they say has significantly weakened militant networks operating in the region. Analysts suggest that such retaliatory actions may be a sign of growing desperation among hostile elements facing sustained military pressure. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding Pakistan’s territorial integrity and protecting its civilian population, warning that any further aggression will be met with a decisive response. The situation remains tense, with heightened alertness reported across border areas as officials closely monitor developments.
Ministry Rejects Afghan Media Claims
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting formally fact-checked Afghan media claims of a military strike on a university in Kunar province, stating that the reports are fabricated and part of a coordinated campaign to obscure the Afghan Taliban’s support for terrorists targeting Pakistan. In a post on X, the ministry called TOLOnews’ reporting “a blatant lie.” It stated that no strike had been carried out on Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University in Asadabad, Kunar province. Pakistan’s targeting, the ministry said, is “precise and intelligence-based.”
TOLOnews had claimed that Pakistani forces conducted missile and jet attacks on Monday targeting the university and surrounding residential areas, citing provincial information chief Najibullah Hanif. The Afghan Taliban official put casualties at three dead and 45 wounded. According to the information ministry, the Afghan media reports follow “the old playbook where Afghan media creates fake news to cover up support to terrorist groups and proxies like Fitna al-Khwarij.” The ministry added that Indian media amplified the claims.
Deteriorating Relations
Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban regime returned to power in 2021. Islamabad’s central demand has been verifiable action against Fitna al-Khwarij (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan). TTP has been carrying out cross-border attacks into Pakistan from Afghan soil. The cross-border hostility has been one-directional.
A mortar shell fired from Afghan territory struck a residential area in the South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa early Sunday morning, injuring three civilians, district police confirmed. The shell landed in a house near the border, wounding two women and a male resident. Police said the women sustained minor injuries while the man was reported to be in serious condition.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that the TTP’s presence in Afghan territory is a “red line” and that peace talks cannot proceed alongside continued militant operations. Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February, targeting terrorist camps inside Afghanistan. Islamabad continues to pursue diplomatic engagement through the Pakistan-China-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
