23 Pakistani soldiers martyred, 200 Taliban killed in border clashes: ISPR

Twenty-three Pakistani soldiers were martyred and over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants were killed in overnight clashes along the Pak-Afghan border, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the ISPR, the fighting erupted on the night of October 11–12 when “Afghan Taliban and India-sponsored Fitna-al-Khawarij” launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan’s border positions.

The term Fitna-al-Khawarij is used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Fitna-al-Hindustan refers to militant groups operating in Balochistan.

The military’s media wing stated that Afghanistan’s “cowardly action”, involving both fire and limited physical raids, appeared aimed at destabilising border areas to “facilitate terrorism and advance the nefarious designs of militants.”

It said Pakistan’s armed forces, exercising the right to self-defence, “repelled the assault decisively” and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban forces and their affiliates. Precision strikes and targeted operations were carried out against Taliban camps, training facilities, and support networks inside Afghan territory, including elements linked to the TTP, Baloch separatists, and ISKP/Daesh.

The ISPR noted that “all possible measures were taken to avoid collateral damage and to protect civilian lives.”

During the operations, multiple Taliban locations along the border were destroyed. The statement added that 21 hostile positions on the Afghan side were briefly captured, and several terrorist training camps used to plan and facilitate attacks against Pakistan were rendered inoperative.

“Twenty-three soldiers embraced martyrdom while defending the country’s territorial integrity, and 29 others were injured,” the statement said.

Citing intelligence assessments, the ISPR reported that over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants were killed, with a higher number believed to be injured. It added that infrastructure losses to Taliban positions, camps, and support networks were extensive along the border, ranging from “tactical to operational depth.”