BAJAUR – Pakistan and Afghan forces exchanged heavy fire along the border in the Bajaur sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, according to security sources, marking another escalation in already strained ties between the two sides.
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Officials said the clash began after Afghan Taliban fighters opened fire using both small and heavy weapons at multiple points along the border. In response, Pakistan security forces launched what sources described as a “vigorous retaliation,” targeting positions from where the attacks were initiated.
Security officials stated that Pakistani forces successfully silenced the firing and destroyed several Afghan posts involved in the attack. They emphasized that no civilian areas were targeted, and operations were limited strictly to militant positions.
The latest incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, following a series of cross-border attacks attributed to Afghan Taliban elements. The situation has deteriorated significantly in recent years, with relations reaching one of their lowest points since the Taliban’s return to power.
Last week, the Foreign Office confirmed that a temporary pause in “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” observed during Eidul Fitr, had ended, and the operation would continue until its objectives are achieved. The campaign was launched on February 26 in response to what officials described as unprovoked cross-border aggression.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir stressed that lasting peace with Afghanistan would only be possible if the Taliban leadership renounced support for militant groups.
Previous efforts to ease tensions, including mediation by Turkey and Qatar, have yielded limited results, with ceasefire agreements proving fragile.
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The latest clash underscores the volatility along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and raises concerns about further escalation if diplomatic efforts fail to produce lasting solutions.