Pakistani security forces foiled an attempted cross-border infiltration into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district from Afghanistan, security officials said on Tuesday, with an exchange of fire subsequently reported between Pakistani troops and Afghan Taliban forces.
According to security sources, militants attempted to enter Kurram from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.
The sources identified the infiltrators as belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, the term used by Pakistani authorities for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
After Pakistani forces blocked the alleged infiltration attempt, Afghan Taliban personnel opened fire on Pakistani border posts, the sources claimed, describing the firing as unprovoked.
Pakistani troops responded by targeting several Afghan Taliban checkpoints and defensive positions along the border, according to the same sources.
The Pakistani security officials claimed their response forced several Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon their positions.
Security forces were continuing to monitor the border and remained prepared to respond to any further hostilities, the sources added.
The account of the incident was provided by Pakistani security sources. No response from Afghan Taliban authorities was included in the report.