2023 Chitral cross-border attacks

The mountainous region of Chitral is typically blanketed in snow during the winter, rendering cross-border movement extremely challenging due to the rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions. However, in the summer season, the region experiences more frequent movement of potential attackers due to the improved conditions and accessibility.[2]

On 7 September 2023, a significant number of terrorists armed with advanced weaponry launched an attack on two military checkpoints in the Chitral district. This assault led to a fierce firefight, resulting in the loss of at least four Pakistani soldiers and the deaths of 12 armed militants. The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group claimed responsibility for this attack.

On 8 September 2023, Pakistan summoned the head of the Afghan diplomatic mission in Islamabad to lodge a robust protest concerning the attacks. The Foreign Office (FO) issued a stern demarche, emphasizing to the Afghan interim government that such attacks and the utilization of Afghan territory by the TTP would pose a significant threat to peace and security.[3][4]

In reaction to the attack, Pakistani troops successfully thwarted the assault and inflicted significant casualties on the terrorists. Reports indicate that 12 militants were killed during the engagement. Subsequently, a thorough operation was conducted in the area to eliminate any remaining militants.[5][6]

The Pakistani army stated that the attacks were orchestrated from the neighboring Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan, and they initiated a combing operation in response. There was an expectation that the Taliban administration in Afghanistan would fulfill its responsibilities and prevent the utilization of Afghan territory by terrorists to carry out acts of terrorism against Pakistan.[2][5]

Following the attack, Pakistan's primary Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan remained closed for a second consecutive day on 7 September 2023. This closure resulted in a backlog of trucks carrying goods. The Torkham border point serves as the primary transit hub for travelers and the transportation of goods between Pakistan and the landlocked nation of Afghanistan.[7]

The Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, has described the recent terrorist attack on two military posts in the Lower Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an "isolated incident."[8][9]

• 2011 Chitral cross-border attacks