3 civilians killed by Afghan Taliban's unprovoked cross-border shelling in K-P's Bajaur: state media
An army soldier stands guard at a deserted entry point at the Friendship Gate, following the exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, at the border crossing between the two countries, in Chaman, Pakistan February 27, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Abdul Khaliq Achakzai
Three civilians, including two children, were martyred and three others were injured on Wednesday when Afghan Taliban forces carried out unprovoked shelling on locals in a border area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Bajaur district, according to state media.
The incident marks a renewed episode of cross-border aggression after a gap of over a month, following Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab Lil Haq launched in response to earlier unprovoked hostility from the Afghan side.
In a post on X, state broadcaster PTV News said, quoting security sources, that "Indian-backed Afghan Taliban unprovoked aggression on civilian population in the border village of Malak Shahin in Kat Kot area of Bajaur" martyred a woman and two children from the same house, while three were seriously injured, who were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.
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"Afghan Taliban have been trying to infiltrate a formation of the khawarij mischief-makers into Pakistan for the past few days. Due to the timely action by the Pakistan Army, the attempt to infiltrate the khawarij mischief-makers was foiled. Frustrated by this failure, the Afghan Taliban targeted Pakistan's civilian population in Kat Kot today," the statement said.
It added that the Pakistan Army responded immediately and destroyed the gun position firing from across the border.
It further said that Pakistani forces were also targeting Afghan Taliban posts along the Bajaur border, inflicting heavy losses and resulting in heavy casualties for the Afghan Taliban.
"Residents of Bajaur have strongly condemned this cowardly act and expressed complete solidarity with the security forces. Security forces remain vigilant and determined at all times to protect the lives and property of the people and to establish lasting peace in the area. Targeting the civilian population by the Afghan Taliban is clear evidence of their nefarious intentions and frustration," the statement said.
ٹاپ بریکنگ
افغان طالبان کی باجوڑ میں پاکستانی سول آبادی پر گولہ باری ،2بچوں سمیت 3 افرادشہید، 3شدید زخمی
بھارتی حمایت یافتہ افغان طالبان کی باجوڑ کے سرحدی علاقے کٹ کوٹ کے گاؤں ملک شاہین میں سول آبادی پر بلا اشتعال جارحیت ، سیکیورٹی ذرائع
بلا اشتعال گولہ باری کے نتیجے میں ایک… pic.twitter.com/6u37avUZKQSindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah strongly condemned the firing and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
"Targeting civilian population is a cowardly act, entire nation is united against terrorism," he said and paid tribute to the army for giving a "strong and prompt response" to the opposing side.
"Thwarting the infiltration attempt of Fitna al-Khawarij is a clear proof of the professionalism of security forces. The enemy will not be allowed to destroy the peace of the country, entire nation stands with Pakistan Army," he said in a statement.
Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was launched around the end of February following renewed clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan.
The neighbouring countries were engaged in escalating hostilities along the frontier since then. The clashes intensified after Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes targeting terrorist positions and abated during a temporary ceasefire on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.
The escalation in tensions between the two countries followed a series of tit-for-tat actions over the past year.
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Pakistan earlier carried out air strikes targeting camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province inside Afghanistan after a wave of attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad.
Islamabad has long maintained that TTP leaders operate from Afghan territory, an allegation that Kabul has repeatedly denied.
Tensions also surged after a series of explosions in Kabul on October 9 last year. Taliban forces subsequently targeted areas along Pakistan’s border, prompting Islamabad to respond with cross-border shelling.
The exchanges caused casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides and led to the suspension of trade after border crossings were closed on October 12, 2025.