Islamabad, Pakistan – Six Pakistani soldiers were killed in an armed assault on a security post along the border with Afghanistan, security sources confirmed early Tuesday. The attack occurred in the Kurram tribal district, a volatile region bordering Afghanistan in the country’s northwest.
According to reports, militants stormed a security checkpoint in the early hours of the morning, triggering a fierce exchange of fire. A Pakistani government official stated that the attackers, believed to be affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), targeted the post, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers and injuries to four others. Two militants were also reportedly killed during the clash.
“Six security personnel were martyred, and four were injured,” the official in Kurram told DZWatch, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. “More than a dozen militants attacked the checkpoint late Monday night, leading to heavy gunfire in Kurram, a tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.”
Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks along its border regions since the Taliban’s resurgence in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring insurgents, a claim vehemently denied by the Afghan government.
The border between the two nations has been a source of tension and was temporarily closed following clashes in October. While Pakistan announced last week it would allow the passage of UN aid into Afghanistan, the security situation remains precarious. This latest incident follows cross-border firing and shelling between Afghan and Pakistani forces last Saturday at the Spin Boldak border crossing, which resulted in civilian casualties, further straining relations.
The security situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been increasingly fraught since 2021. Security concerns remain at the heart of the conflict, with previous clashes resulting in numerous casualties and necessitating mediation efforts to establish ceasefires. The situation remains tense, and further developments are expected.
