Pakistani officials say the country's army has destroyed several Taliban posts along the border in a retaliatory operation. The action was taken after a mortar shell hit a house in the Angur Ada area of South Waziristan, killing one civilian and injuring five other family members.
The Associated Press reported that Taliban forces targeted residential areas and the market in Angur Ada, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with mortar fire. The report stated that one of the shells hit a house, and several shops in the market were also damaged.
Samar Haroon Bilour, a local official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, wrote on the social media platform X on Tuesday that the attack had angered local residents. Citing security sources, he added that the Pakistani army destroyed the Taliban posts in response. Another local official said that Pakistani forces stationed at the border responded "strongly and effectively" to the attacks.
Faisal Karim Kundi, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, condemned the attack as "unprovoked aggression by the Taliban." In a statement addressed to the Taliban government, he said they should not be under any illusion and that any aggression would be met with "unwavering resolve."
The Taliban government has not yet commented on the clash or Pakistan's claim of destroying its posts. It is not yet clear what triggered the exchange of fire.
This clash occurs amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul in recent months. Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Taliban government to take action against militant groups, such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it says use Afghan soil for attacks. However, the Taliban has denied these accusations, considering Pakistan's insecurity an internal matter.
Source: Associated Press
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