At least five soldiers were martyred after terrorists launched a cross-border attack from Afghanistan on the Pakistan troops stationed in Kurram district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The military’s media wing said that the Pakistani troops responded befittingly to the attack, adding that as per “intelligence reports” the “terrorists suffered heavy causalities”.

The five soldiers that were martyred during the exchange of fire included 34-year-old Lance Naik Ajab Noor (resident of Karachi), 22-year-old Sepoy Ziaullah Khan (resident of Lakki Marwat), 23-year-old Sepoy Naheed Iqbal (resident of Karak), 18-year-old Sepoy Sameerullah Khan (resident of Bannu) and 27-year old Sepoy Sajid Ali (resident of Bahawalnagar).

“Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that the interim Afghan government will not allow the conduct of such activities against Pakistan in future,” said the ISPR in response to the attack.

Pakistan Army is “determined to defend” the country’s borders against terrorism and such “sacrifices” will further strengthen their resolve, the statement added.

Meanwhile interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, while condemning the attack in a statement, urged the Taliban government to “fulfil” its promise of controlling cross-border terrorism.

“We pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the security forces,” said the interior minister, adding that the sacrifices made by the security forces for the homeland will not go in vain.

GCW Commentary:

Pakistan has been facing  a ruthless wave of terrorism since last few months. Once again the aim of these attacks are security forces of Pakistan. In the recent attacks in Baluchistan, terrorists of BLA were equipped with modern assault rifles like M16/M4 fitted with red dot laser along with advanced night vision devices.

The role of other countries in these attacks is as critical as of Afghanistan’s. For example, Iran has direct clash of interest with CPEC and its intended extension towards Central Asian Republics (CARs). A faction of Pakistani intelligentsia believes that Iran wants to send a strategic signal to China in a bid to tell Beijing that her investment in Pakistan is not secure hence China will be in a better position to use Iranian Chahbahar port instead of Gawadar in Pakistan. In this way, Iran wants China to join a route from China to Uzbekistan to Tajikistan to Iran leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan out. Pakistan is well aware of such a scenario and that’s why border with Iran is being fenced. Kalbushan Yadev’s case is also a living proof of Iranian compliance in Indian RAW’s plans against CPEC/Pakistan.

Pakistan is in dire need to revisit its tactics against such fire raid attacks followed by ambushes on security forces posts and installations. A starting point in this regard can be to establish a surveillance grid being monitored by multiple armed and ISR drones. Next step can be to redeployment of forces according to surveillance so that once terrorists tracked can be engaged by ground forces having complete picture at tactical level like where terrorist snipers are taking positions, locating VBIED vehicles, etc. And finally, terrorists’ launch pads must be eliminated and if this requires crossing international border with Afghanistan.

Shahzad Masood Roomi

Shahzad Masood Roomi is founding member and, editor security and geopolitics at GCW. He is IT graduate and has more than 10 years experience of being a  geopolitics and defense affairs analyst. He focuses on IR, geopolitics, strategic studies, maritime security, cybersecurity issues, military aviation, history and geography. His work has published in national and international media outlets.