Pakistan has intensified security across its border regions after six soldiers were killed in an attack on a security checkpoint in Kurram district, a remote area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that has seen a rise in militant activity in recent years.
Officials said the assault took place late Monday when more than a dozen militants opened fire on the post, triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire. Four soldiers were injured, while two of the attackers were killed in the clash. The details were shared by a local government representative who spoke on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to comment publicly.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. The group, which has been active for more than a decade in Pakistan’s northwest, has stepped up operations since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Authorities in Islamabad say TTP fighters have been using Afghan territory as a safe haven, enabling them to regroup and launch cross-border attacks. Kabul denies the accusation, insisting it does not allow any group to operate against neighbouring countries.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns about the fragile security environment along the frontier. Pakistan has already tightened patrols across the border crossings, which have remained shut since a series of clashes in October. Last week, officials announced that although the border would stay closed for routine movement, UN humanitarian aid would soon be permitted to pass through into Afghanistan.
Tension between the two sides escalated further in recent days after a deadly exchange of fire near a major crossing point. Afghanistan said the clash resulted in the deaths of four civilians and one soldier. Each country accused the other of provoking the confrontation, raising fears of a broader escalation at a time when relations are already strained.
Kurram, which borders several Afghan provinces, has long been a sensitive area due to its rugged terrain and proximity to traditional militant routes. Security forces in the district have faced repeated attacks over the years, including roadside bombings and ambushes targeting both local personnel and military convoys.
The renewed violence has prompted calls within Pakistan for stronger border management and coordinated action against militant groups operating in the region. For communities living along the frontier, the attack has revived anxieties about instability returning to levels seen during earlier waves of militancy.
Authorities have not released the identities of the soldiers killed in the assault, and security operations in the area remained ongoing on Tuesday.
