Kurram Border Firing: Pakistan Army Responds to Afghan Taliban Posts
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: The Kurram border firing flared on Saturday after Afghan Taliban forces opened unprovoked fire along the Pak-Afghan border in Upper Kurram, prompting Pakistan’s security forces to respond with heavy weapons, state media reported.
*PTV News* and the state-run *Associated Press of Pakistan* (*APP*), citing security sources, said the Afghan Taliban opened fire “to facilitate terrorists” along the border in the Taldah sector of Upper Kurram. The Kurram border firing triggered a swift retaliatory response from the Pakistan Army, which used artillery and heavy weapons against the positions the fire came from.
Retaliatory action after the Kurram border firing
According to *PTV News*, the army’s response destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts in the sector and forced their personnel to flee. *APP* quoted security sources as saying several Afghan Taliban personnel were “reportedly killed” during the retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border.
The sources said the army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire in the Upper Kurram sector, completely destroying the latter. The exchange of fire was still under way in the area when the reports were filed. The details were reported by Dawn on Saturday night, citing *PTV News* and *APP*.
The clash comes a day after the Foreign Office said talks with Afghanistan could not be unconditional, while also rejecting the suggestion that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with Kabul. “Pakistan is not shying away from discussions or dialogue, including with representatives of Afghanistan,” Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at the weekly media briefing, adding that Pakistan would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to help address its security concerns.
The statement followed Russia’s renewed offer to mediate between the two countries. Islamabad has said it is not aware of any formal Russian mediation initiative under discussion.
Months of border tensions
The Kurram border firing is the latest in a series of border incidents that have strained ties between the two neighbours in recent months, as Pakistan continues to voice concern over cross-border terrorism.
In September, Pakistan conducted “calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in the border region on Sept 21, with the government saying more than 28 terrorists were killed in response to major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described that action as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, launched on the night of Feb 26 after unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.
Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that entered Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat. In retaliation, Pakistan carried out “precision aerial and drone strikes” at 10 locations across Afghanistan, and delivered a demarche to the Afghan side on Sept 26 over the airspace violation. On Oct 1, Pakistan again carried out “well-planned and calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, which the information ministry said killed “multiple terrorists”.
Pakistan’s security concerns extend beyond the border. Recent weeks have seen an intelligence-based operation in Dalbandin and the abduction of trainee police personnel travelling from Kalat to Nushki, both linked to the broader counterterrorism effort in the region.
What happens next
For now, the situation along the Kurram border remains fluid, with state media reporting that firing was continuing. The Foreign Office has kept the door to dialogue open, but its position is clear: talks cannot be unconditional while cross-border attacks continue. Civilian measures are also moving in parallel, including NADRA’s 43 new citizen facilitation centres across 11 KP districts.
The military’s top command has already signalled a firm line. The commander of the National Strategic Command recently warned that any miscalculation by adversaries would draw a response “far beyond imagination” — a message that now carries fresh weight after Saturday’s exchange.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Kurram border firing take place?
The firing took place in the Taldah sector of Upper Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, according to *PTV News* and *APP*.
What triggered the exchange?
State media, citing security sources, said Afghan Taliban forces opened unprovoked fire “to facilitate terrorists” along the border, prompting a retaliatory response from the Pakistan Army.
What was destroyed in the retaliatory action?
The army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire, reportedly destroying the Shipola camp completely, along with several other posts.
Is firing still continuing in the area?
*APP* quoted security sources as saying the exchange of fire was still ongoing when the reports were filed on Saturday.
