Artillery moved to Pak-Afghan border

The move came just two days after the military decimated camps of the TTP's Jamaatul Ahrar faction

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Army has moved heavy artillery towards the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman and Torkham districts, security officials said on Monday.

The move came just two days after the military decimated camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) Jamaatul Ahrar (JA) faction on the Torkham border opposite Mohmand and Khyber tribal regions. The group, which claims to be behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks, has found safe haven in Afghanistan, according to the Pakistani security establishment.

Security sources said their forces have resolved to restrict illegal border movement and any attempt to breach border security will be responded to with full force. Security forces have stepped up patrolling in the areas along the Afghan border, while security has been put on high alert in North and South Waziristan agencies.

Security forces have also indefinitely closed the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2017.