12 militants, Afghan Taliban fighters killed in foiled Kurram infiltration

Security forces have foiled an infiltration attempt by Fitna Al Khawarij militants along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Kurram sector, killing 12 militants and Afghan Taliban fighters, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a Pakistan Army Naib Subedar Hidayat Aman was martyred in an exchange of fire.

According to the ISPR, security forces detected the movement of a group attempting to enter Pakistan.

Afghan Taliban posts also opened fire to assist the infiltrators, triggering an intense exchange of fire in which Naib Subedar Hidayat Aman, 40, was martyred. He belonged to Ghizer district.

The ISPR said the incident reinforced Pakistan’s position that the Afghan Taliban authorities had failed to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan.

It stated the Afghan Taliban authorities were facilitating and supporting cross-border terrorism instead of preventing it, saying they had failed to fulfil their international counterterrorism obligations.

The military’s media wing said a clearance operation was underway in the area to eliminate other Indian-sponsored militants.

It added that security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue counterterrorism operations until terrorism backed by external support was eliminated.