Pakistan thwarts Afghan Taliban attack in Balochistan's Gulistan sector

Pakistan says Afghan Taliban attack thwarted in Gulistan sector

Afghan Taliban fighters attempted to enter Pakistani territory in Balochistan’s Gulistan sector and carry out an act of aggression, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported, citing security sources. Several Afghan Taliban fighters were killed in retaliatory action, according to the report. An intermittent exchange of fire between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban was ongoing after midnight, the sources said. The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Earlier, Pakistan conducted precision aerial and drone strikes at 10 locations across Afghanistan in retaliation for drone attacks launched from the neighbouring country, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. The response followed the entry of eight drones launched from Afghanistan into Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat on Wednesday. Security sources said the drones were subsequently shot down. Afghan Taliban forces were also reported to have engaged in unprovoked firing near Kurram the previous night, while security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to cross into Pakistan. On September 21, Pakistan carried out “calibrated” airstrikes in the border region with Afghanistan against terrorist hideouts and safe havens following recent attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The information ministry said on Monday that more than 28 terrorists were killed in the strikes. “It is a matter of grave concern that Afghanistan continues to remain a hub of terrorism,” the ministry said, adding that the “threat to Pakistan emanates from Afghanistan”. The strikes followed a major attack at the old Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat, in which 23 people were killed and about 100 injured. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation launched to secure the area.