Why it matters:
The incident underscores rising security tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and highlights Islamabad’s growing frustration with the Taliban-led Afghan government's failure to rein in cross-border militancy.
The big picture:
Pakistan has seen a surge in attacks along its western border, many of which it attributes to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group it refers to as "Khawarij terrorists." Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent militants from using Afghan territory to launch attacks.
What he’s saying:
Pakistan’s military reiterated its call for the Interim Afghan Government to take responsibility for cross-border threats:
“The Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khawarij terrorists for perpetrating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”
Key points:
- A group of terrorists was intercepted in the Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan on Sunday.
- Pakistani troops engaged the infiltrators in an intense firefight.
- Eight militants were killed, and four others were injured.
- Ongoing sanitization operations are underway to clear the area of any remaining threats.
Go deeper:
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has become increasingly volatile in recent months, with Islamabad warning that failure to act against groups like the TTP could destabilize both nations. The growing friction also tests the fragile relationship between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime.
Hossein Vaez
