Pakistani Forces Respond to Cross-Border Attack

RAWALPINDI: In response to an unprovoked cross-border assault, Pakistani forces neutralized over 200 Afghan insurgents and their allies. The offensive was launched by insurgents, with support from elements in India, prompting a defensive reaction, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday.

The military’s media division released a statement detailing that Pakistani forces executed “precise targeting and strikes, alongside ground operations, aimed at insurgent outposts, training centers, and logistical networks operating within Afghan territory.”

“Numerous insurgent locations along the border were obliterated; 21 enemy emplacements on the Afghan side were briefly seized, and several insurgent training facilities, utilized for orchestrating attacks against Pakistan, were rendered unusable,” the statement elaborated.

Recent escalations between the neighboring countries have involved cross-border exchanges after fire was initiated from Afghanistan towards multiple border locations, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, and Kurram. Additional incidents have occurred in Dir, Chitral, Baramcha, and other areas along the Durand Line.

The rising tensions have drawn responses from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran, with each nation advocating for de-escalation and encouraging dialogue.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry representative, Esmaeil Baqaei, voiced apprehension regarding the clashes, urging both Pakistan and Afghanistan to engage in immediate discussions to resolve the conflict.

“Iran stands ready to facilitate de-escalation between the neighboring states,” Baqaei stated.

The ISPR further reported substantial infrastructural damage to insurgent posts, camps, headquarters, and logistical networks across the border, impacting both tactical and operational capabilities.

Emphasizing Pakistan’s preference for diplomatic solutions over aggression, the military spokesperson cautioned that the nation would not accept the exploitation of Afghan territory for insurgent activities.

“For the sake of regional stability, we urge the government to implement immediate and verifiable measures to dismantle insurgent groups operating within their borders.

“Failing that, Pakistan will continue to assert its right to protect its citizens by consistently neutralizing insurgent targets. The government should abandon misguided notions and prioritize the welfare, peace, prosperity, and development of the Afghan populace over reckless hostility,” the statement emphasized.

The ISPR reiterated that the recent confrontations validate Pakistan’s longstanding claim that the government is enabling insurgents.

“Should the government continue to support insurgent organizations, in collaboration with external entities, with the aim of destabilizing the region, the people and state of Pakistan will persist in their efforts to completely eradicate the insurgent threat emanating from Afghanistan,” the military’s media wing asserted.