Twenty-three soldiers embraced martyrdom as the armed forces decisively repelled a major overnight terrorist assault launched from Afghan soil by the Taliban and their India-backed affiliates, the military and the Foreign Office confirmed on Sunday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan forces gave a befitting reply to the unprovoked attack, carried out late Saturday night, and killed over 200 terrorists, and destroyed multiple terrorist positions and training facilities along the frontier.
The media wing of the military said the coordinated assault involved heavy gunfire and limited physical raids aimed at destabilising border regions to facilitate infiltration and terrorism.
Authorities subsequently closed key border crossings with Afghanistan, including Torkham, Chaman, and Ghulam Khan, as well as smaller crossings such as Kharlachi and Angoor Adda. The closures were intended to prevent further incursions and protect Pakistani civilians.
According to the ISPR, the unprovoked attack targeted Pakistan's sovereignty and was timed to coincide with the visit of the Taliban regime's foreign minister to India, which is the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region.
"On the night of 11/12 Oct 2025, Afghan Taliban and Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan, along the Pak-Afghan border," the ISPR said in a statement issued here on Sunday.
"The cowardly action, which included fire and few physical raids, was aimed at destabilising the border areas to facilitate terrorism, furthering FAK's nefarious designs. Exercising the right of self-defence, the alert armed forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively," it said.
The statement emphasised that Pakistani forces had inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban forces and their affiliates, destroying their multiple positions, while taking every precaution to avoid civilian harm.
"Precision fires and strikes, as well as physical raids, were directed against Taliban camps and posts, terrorist training facilities and support networks operating from Afghan territory, including elements linked to FAK, FAH and ISKP/Daesh [Islamic State]," it said.
Multiple Taliban positions were destroyed in the operations, including 21 posts that were briefly captured on the Afghan side of the border. Terrorist training compounds, used to organising attacks against Pakistan were rendered inoperative, it added.
"During overnight skirmishes, 23 brave sons of Pakistan embraced Shahadat while defending the territorial integrity of our beloved country, while 29 soldiers were injured," the ISPR confirmed.
It described the infrastructural damage inflicted on the Taliban regime as extensive. "The damage to terrorist posts, camps, headquarters, and support networks along the border ranges from tactical to operational depth," the ISPR said.
The ISPR said: "The armed forces of Pakistan remain ever ready to protect the territorial integrity, life and property of the people of Pakistan. Our resolve to defend Pakistan's territorial integrity and to defeat those who threaten our security is unwavering."
The military also expressed concern over the timing of the attack. "This serious provocation has occurred during the visit to India by the Taliban regime's foreign minister to India – the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region," the ISPR said.
The statement reinforced Pakistan's long-standing position that the Taliban regime is actively facilitating terrorist operations. "In the interest of regional peace and security, we call upon the Taliban regime to take immediate and verifiable actions to neutralise the terrorist groups, inter alia, FAK, FAH and ISKP/Daesh operating from their territory," it added.
The ISPR warned that continued failure to act against terrorist outfits would prompt Pakistan to persist with operations targeting terrorist locations. "If the Taliban regime continues to sponsor terrorist outfits, in cohorts with India, for short-sighted objectives of destabilising the region, the people and the state of Pakistan will not rest until the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is completely eliminated," the statement said.
The Foreign Office echoed these concerns, terming the assault "unwarranted aggression" by the Taliban regime, FAK, and FAH. "Pakistan, exercising its right of self-defence, not only effectively repulsed the assaults all along the border but also inflicted heavy losses on Taliban forces and affiliated terrorists, in terms of men, material and infrastructure," the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, border closures immediately affected trade and movement of people. Ghulam Khan, the third-largest trade crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, along with Torkham and Chaman, was sealed, disrupting daily commercial transactions.
Local authorities said the reopening of crossings would be considered only once the situation stabilised. Local residents reported a tense atmosphere along the frontier. Despite Pakistani forces' success in repelling the assault, intermittent firing was reported in parts of Kurram district by Sunday morning, according to a Reuters report.
"The exchange of fire continued intermittently until dawn," a tribal elder from the region said. "People have been advised to avoid movement near the border, and security agencies are on high alert." Observers noted increased movement of Afghan troops and reinforcement of their border posts with heavy weaponry in recent days, raising tensions further.
Common cause
The Foreign Office also criticised attempts by the Taliban regime to deflect attention from the presence of terrorist groups on its soil. "By making these baseless assertions, the Taliban regime cannot absolve itself of its responsibilities towards regional peace and stability," it said.
It also pointed to UN Monitoring Team reports documenting the freedom enjoyed by terrorist groups such as FAK and FAH in Afghanistan, and reiterated Pakistan's repeated warnings about these groups.
"The fight against terrorism is a common cause. Instead of shifting responsibilities, the Taliban regime should honour its commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for terrorism against other countries, as well as play its due role for achieving peace and stability in the region and beyond," the statement added.
Pakistan has repeatedly called for constructive measures from the Taliban regime, urging it to prioritise the well-being, peace, and development of Afghan citizens over regional destabilisation. "We also hope that one day, the Afghan people would be emancipated and governed by a true representative government," the statement concluded.
The ISPR underlined that the armed forces' readiness and resolve remained undiminished. "While the people of Pakistan prefer constructive diplomacy and dialogue over violence and belligerence, we will not tolerate the treacherous use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan," it said.
(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
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