Afghanistan reports 28 militants killed in cross-border incursion

Afghanistan's defence ministry said Sunday that its forces had engaged and killed 28 militants in Nuristan province after they crossed the border from Pakistan. The operation also resulted in 32 fighters being wounded, according to a statement from the ministry.

The incursion marked another security incident in the volatile eastern region, which has long served as a transit point for cross-border militant movements. Afghan officials characterised the infiltrators as belonging to a group that included Islamic State affiliates, though further details about the operation were not immediately available.

Nuristan province, nestled in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains, has been a persistent flashpoint for militant activity. The region's remote terrain and porous borders have made it difficult for authorities to fully secure against infiltration attempts.

The incident underscores ongoing security challenges facing Afghan forces along the Pakistan frontier, where militant groups continue to exploit geographical proximity and rugged landscape to conduct cross-border operations. Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have frequently been strained over border security and allegations of militant safe havens on Pakistani soil.