By In a recent incident in Chitral district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four brave soldiers lost their lives while defending against a group of militants. The operation resulted in the elimination of 12 terrorists. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists, armed with advanced weapons, attacked two military posts near the Afghanistan border in the Kalash area of Chitral district.
The ISPR had prior information about the movement and gathering of terrorists in various areas of Afghanistan’s Nuristan and Kunar provinces, which was shared with the Interim Afghan Government. Consequently, the military posts in the region were on high alert. Despite the heightened threat, our courageous soldiers valiantly repelled the attack, causing significant casualties among the terrorists. In the exchange of fire, twelve terrorists were killed, and many others were seriously injured.
The military is now conducting operations to ensure the complete elimination of any remaining terrorists in the area. The security forces of Pakistan remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicating terrorism, and the people of Chitral continue to support them in maintaining peace in the region.
The ISPR also emphasized the importance of the interim Afghan government fulfilling its obligations and preventing the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to carry out acts of terrorism against Pakistan.
According to Lower Chitral Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali, seven soldiers and over 40 terrorists were injured during the clash. This attack in Chitral is unprecedented in its scale and intensity, as noted by journalist Rasool Dawar, who has covered militancy in the region for many years. Chitral, considered a relatively safe area, was not adequately prepared for such a large-scale attack.
The incident also led to the closure of the Torkham border, affecting the movement of goods and trade between the two countries. While exchanges of fire have occurred at this border before, both sides seem to be downplaying this latest incident. Disputes over the border, which stretches over 2,600 kilometers, have been a longstanding issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan, leading to intermittent closures of the Torkham crossing in recent years.
