Pakistan responds to Afghan Taliban firing along Kurram border

Pakistan’s security forces responded after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly opened fire along the border in Upper Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to state media reports on Saturday. The incident was reported in the Taldah sector, an area close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier where security concerns have remained high.

PTV News reported that the firing from across the border was intended to support militants operating near the boundary. State-run Associated Press of Pakistan, citing security sources, said Pakistani forces launched a retaliatory response after the reported attack.

According to the reports, heavy weapons were used during the response and several Afghan Taliban positions were hit. The accounts said personnel at some of the targeted locations withdrew, while firing in the area was continuing when the reports were issued.

Security sources quoted by APP said that Afghan Taliban personnel were reportedly killed during retaliatory action near the Ghuzgarhi border. The reports also said artillery fire was directed at positions identified as the Topsar post and Shipola base camp in the Upper Kurram sector. These claims could not be independently verified at the time of publication.

The latest exchange comes amid strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul over Pakistan’s repeated allegations that militant groups use Afghan territory to stage attacks inside Pakistan. The Foreign Office has said Pakistan remains open to dialogue but expects concrete and verifiable action on its security concerns.

At a weekly briefing a day earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan was not avoiding engagement with Afghanistan and would welcome sincere assistance from friendly countries aimed at advancing regional peace. He also said there was no formal Russian mediation initiative under discussion at that time.

Border tensions have intensified in recent months, following reported militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a series of security incidents near the frontier. Pakistan has previously said it carried out targeted operations against militant hideouts across the border, while Afghan authorities have rejected accusations that their territory is being used against Pakistan.

The renewed firing raises the risk of further instability for communities living near the border, where security alerts, disrupted movement and fear of escalation can affect daily life. Any sustained confrontation could also complicate diplomatic efforts to address militancy, cross-border security and regional stability.

Pakistan is expected to continue monitoring the situation in Upper Kurram while pressing its demand for action against militant networks. The immediate outlook will depend on whether the exchange subsides and whether both sides pursue channels to prevent additional border incidents.