Latest Assault Heightens Tensions with Afghanistan, Accused of Harboring Militant Group
PESHAWAR: Militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed six Pakistani soldiers in an attack on a northwestern checkpoint late Monday, officials said, marking the latest violence to shake the volatile border region near Afghanistan.
The assault in Kurram district involved a “heavy exchange of fire” after more than a dozen insurgents targeted the security post, a local official told AFP. Four soldiers were wounded and two attackers were also killed in the clash, the source added.
Pakistan has witnessed a significant uptick in militant violence along its western frontier since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Islamabad insists that the Afghan Taliban leadership provides sanctuary to TTP fighters, enabling cross-border raids—a charge denied by Kabul.
This incident exacerbates already strained bilateral ties. The frontier has been closed since October following fatal skirmishes between the two nations’ forces, though a limited corridor for UN aid was recently announced.
The attack comes just days after Afghan and Pakistani troops exchanged fire at a major border crossing, resulting in several casualties. Each government blamed the other for instigating that clash, highlighting the deep-seated mistrust and security challenges plaguing the region.
