Attaullah Tarar strongly condemned what he described as a deliberate cross-border attack by the Afghan Taliban that targeted civilians in Pakistan’s border region. The minister said the assault occurred on March 15 when artillery and mortar fire was launched from across the border, striking residential areas and causing tragic casualties among innocent residents.
According to officials, the shelling took place around 3:30 pm in the Tabesta Letai area of Salarzai within Bajaur District. The attack hit a civilian house directly, killing four people and leaving a five-year-old child critically injured, intensifying concerns about cross-border violence affecting vulnerable communities living near the frontier.
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Tarar confirmed that the four victims, identified as Sajid, Ayaz, Riaz, and Muaz, were real brothers who lost their lives when the mortar struck their home. The tragic loss shocked residents in the area, and local communities expressed deep anger and grief over the targeting of unarmed civilians living in peaceful border villages.
Furthermore, the minister accused the Afghan Taliban of acting in coordination with militants linked to the group known as Fitna-al-Khawarij. He stated that such attacks violate international law and basic humanitarian principles, while also reflecting the frustration of militant networks facing intensified counterterrorism operations by Pakistan’s armed forces.
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Meanwhile, authorities said Pakistan’s military has responded firmly to the incident by targeting the positions and infrastructure believed responsible for the attack. Security officials emphasized that operations against militant networks and hostile elements will continue as part of the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq.
Officials also reiterated that protecting civilian lives remains a top priority for the state, especially in sensitive border areas where militant groups frequently attempt to destabilize local communities. They stressed that Pakistan will continue taking decisive measures to defend its territory and ensure peace along the frontier with Afghanistan.