ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army destroyed multiple Afghan Taliban posts in retaliatory action after unprovoked cross-border firing wounded three civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district, security sources said.
The incident occurred in the Zlol Khel area of Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, where Afghan Taliban terrorists opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani civilian areas following a failed infiltration attempt by terrorists from across the border, security sources said.
According to security sources, terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by the state as Fitna al-Khawarij, attempted to enter Pakistan from Afghan territory.
Pakistani forces responded with a swift operation that thwarted the infiltration bid, the sources said. Security sources added that the military foiled all attempts by the terrorist group to cross the border into Pakistan.
Following the failed attempt, Afghan Taliban terrorists opened fire, targeting civilian areas due to “frustration after defeat”, security sources said.
Three Pakistani civilians, including two women, were injured in the Afghan Taliban’s unprovoked firing, security sources said.
The injured were immediately shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Wana for treatment.
In response to the Afghan Taliban border provocation, Pakistani troops carried out “vigorous and effective” retaliatory action, targeting and destroying several Afghan Taliban posts involved in the firing, according to security sources.
Sources said the Afghan Taliban gun positions used in the attack were neutralised, preventing further escalation.
The Pakistan military’s response came after repeated attempts by Afghan Taliban terrorists to facilitate the cross-border movement of terrorists into Pakistan.
Local residents strongly condemned the firing on civilian areas and called for decisive action against the Afghan Taliban terrorists.
Local communities in the area lauded the Pakistan Army’s response to Afghan Taliban provocation.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the military for foiling the infiltration attempt and responding effectively.
“I salute the brave soldiers of the Pakistan Army,” Naqvi said, adding that the army had thwarted the “nefarious intentions” of the terrorists through timely action.
He also condemned the firing on civilians and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.
The incident followed Pakistan’s large-scale counter terrorism operations under “Ghazab Lil Haq”, which had placed terrorist groups under severe pressure.
“Following immense losses and inability to find support, the Afghan Taliban are now targeting civilian populations in frustration,” the sources said.
They added that similar incidents had previously occurred in Dir, Bajaur, Orakzai, Torkham and North Waziristan districts.
