Peshawar: Pakistani security forces have killed a senior Afghan Taliban commander during a late-night operation close to the Torkham border crossing, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to security sources, the militant leader — identified as Qahraman — was intercepted along with several associates as they attempted to move toward the frontier area. Troops engaged the group using artillery support, resulting in their deaths.
The operation took place near Torkham, a key transit point linking Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with Afghanistan’s Nangarhar. The crossing serves as one of the busiest gateways for trade and travel between the two countries and has long been sensitive from a security standpoint.
Officials described Qahraman as a commander affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA). He was reportedly based on the Afghan side of the border, near Jalalabad, and was believed to be coordinating cross-border militant activities.
Security personnel said the militants were detected approaching the frontier under the cover of darkness before being confronted by Pakistani forces. The ensuing exchange, supported by heavy fire, led to the elimination of the group.
Authorities have not disclosed further operational details but indicated that the action was part of ongoing efforts to curb militant infiltration and stabilise the volatile border region.
Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier have remained high in recent months, with both sides accusing each other of failing to prevent armed groups from operating near the boundary. The latest incident underscores the fragile security situation around one of South Asia’s most strategic crossings.
