Pakistan-Taliban war: Pakistani forces engage in deadly clash with Afghan Taliban, multiple explosions rock Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Border

Heavy fighting broke out late Tuesday between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban near the border in Kurram district, according to Pakistan’s state media. State broadcaster PTV News reported that Afghan Taliban fighters and members of Fitna al-Khawarij, the term Pakistan uses for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani troops. The Pakistani Army retaliated with full force, leading to intense clashes along the frontier.

PTV said the Afghan Taliban suffered heavy losses, including the destruction of at least one tank, forcing several fighters to abandon their positions. Later updates from the channel claimed that another Taliban post and tank position were destroyed, followed by confirmation that a fourth tank site at the Shamsadar post was also hit.

According to PTV’s sources, a senior TTP commander was killed during the exchange of fire. The situation along the border remains tense, with reinforcements reportedly deployed by Pakistani forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch held a comprehensive briefing for foreign ambassadors in Islamabad, outlining the country’s position on the recent escalation along the Pak-Afghan border.

According to the Foreign Office, Baloch highlighted Pakistan’s serious security concerns and reaffirmed its resolve to defend its territorial integrity and national security amid ongoing tensions.

Over the weekend, Afghan Taliban forces reportedly launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistani border posts, killing 23 Pakistani soldiers, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing. The ISPR said Pakistan’s counteroffensive killed over 200 Taliban fighters and allied militants.

The Taliban government in Kabul, however, claimed the attack was retaliatory, alleging that Pakistan had conducted air strikes inside Afghan territory days earlier, a charge Islamabad has not confirmed. Instead, Pakistan renewed its call for the Taliban to stop sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operating from Afghan soil.

Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing TTP fighters to use Afghan territory to launch cross-border assaults which Kabul continues to deny, maintaining that Afghanistan is not being used against any neighbour.

The latest violence comes after a brief phase of diplomatic engagement earlier this year. In April, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar led a high-level delegation to Kabul, with China mediating several rounds of talks aimed at stabilising relations. While the meetings led to a temporary improvement in ties and a reduction in attacks, the situation has deteriorated in recent weeks.

Pakistan has witnessed a fresh surge in militant violence, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Dozens of Pakistani soldiers have been killed in multiple assaults, including a recent attack in the Orakzai tribal district, where the military said it killed more than 30 militants in retaliatory action.

The year 2024 was already one of the bloodiest for Pakistan, with over 2,500 people killed in violence despite repeated efforts by both sides to mend ties.