Security forces foil terrorists infiltration attempt in Kurram: state media

Security forces on Wednesday foiled an infiltration attempt by terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij to cross into the Kurram sector from Afghanistan and responded promptly to firing by the Afghan Taliban. The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used by the state to refer to terrorists affiliated with the banned TTP. According to security sources, the infiltration attempt was made from Afghan Taliban posts in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces but was effectively thwarted by Pakistani troops deployed along the border. Following the failure of the attempt, the Afghan Taliban opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani border posts using heavy weapons, mortars and other arms, sources added. They further added that security forces responded effectively and targeted several Afghan Taliban border posts, mortar positions and defensive positions with small and heavy weapons, including artillery. The intense retaliatory action forced Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon several posts and flee, it added. Security forces continue to maintain complete control over the border areas and remain fully alert to respond promptly and decisively to any further provocation, the sources said. Read: 6 personnel martyred in Balochistan Customs House attack, 21 terrorists killed across province: ISPR On September 3, Security forces killed 15 terrorists who were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border opposite North Waziristan District. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces detected the "movement of a group of khawarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij during the night of August 31 and September 1." “Own troops responded professionally and with patience to engage them successfully,” the statement said. The ISPR further added that as a result of "precise and skillful engagement" that lasted for 36 hours, 15 terrorists were killed. Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.