ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces responded to unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban fighters in the Kurram sector along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, destroying several Taliban regime posts, state broadcaster PTV News reported on Saturday.
Afghan Taliban fighters opened unprovoked fire to facilitate terrorists’ infiltration into Pakistan, PTV News and state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
Pakistan Army responded using heavy weapons, destroying several Taliban regime posts and forcing their fighters to flee from there, PTV News reported.
پاک افغان سرحد پر افغان طالبان رجیم کی دہشت گردوں کی معاونت میں بلااشتعال فائرنگ، پاک فوج کا منہ توڑ جواب جاری کرم سیکٹر میں افغان طالبان کی بلااشتعال فائرنگ کا پاک فوج کی جانب سے بھاری ہتھیاروں سے مؤثر جواب پاک فوج کی بھرپور جوابی کارروائی میں افغان طالبان کی متعدد پوسٹیں تباہ، طالبان رجیم کے اہلکار پوسٹیں چھوڑ کر فرار پاک فوج سرحدوں کے دفاع اور ملکی سلامتی کے لیے ہر وقت چوکس اور پُرعزم ہے، سیکیورٹی ذرائع
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) October 17, 2026
Meanwhile, APP quoted security sources as saying that several fighters of the Afghan Taliban were “reportedly killed during the Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border”.
The security sources further said that in the Upper Kurram sector, the Pakistan Army targeted the Afghan Taliban regime’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire, reportedly completely destroying the latter.
The exchange of fire was still ongoing in the area, APP quoted security sources as saying.
The border skirmishes come a day after Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson said that talks with the Taliban could not be unconditional, but also rejected suggestions that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with the Taliban regime and said it would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to help resolve the dispute.
“Pakistan is not shying away from discussions or dialogue, including with representatives of Afghanistan. Pakistan would welcome any sincere efforts by friendly countries that could help address our legitimate security concerns and promote regional peace and stability,” Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at the weekly media briefing.
Pakistan continued to voice its concern over cross-border terrorism from Afghan soil.
On September 21, in response to recent major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan conducted “calibrated” airstrikes in the border region with Afghanistan against terrorist hideouts, killing more than 28 terrorists.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the action as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which was launched on the night of February 26 in response to unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.
Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that had entered Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat.
In retaliation for the drone incursion, Pakistan conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” in 10 locations across Afghanistan.
A demarche was also delivered to the Afghan side on September 26 on account of the September 23 airspace violation by drones, the Foreign Office said.
On October 1, Pakistan carried out “well-planned and calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, the information ministry said, which resulted in the deaths of “multiple terrorists”.
