30 Afghan Taliban killed as attacks repulsed

ISLAMABAD: At least 30 Afghan Taliban personnel have been killed in ongoing cross-border exchanges along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier, according to security officials, as heavy engagement continued past midnight across multiple sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The escalation began after what the government earlier described as unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban regime forces at various points along the border. Islamabad said the aggression was met with an immediate and effective response by Pakistan’s security forces.

Security officials said exchanges have taken place in Chitral (Arandu), Bajaur (Nawagai), Mohmand, Khyber (Tirah) and Kurram sectors.

In a late-night update, officials said heavy retaliatory action was ongoing in Mohmand’s Gursal sector, where Afghan Taliban check posts were destroyed and three additional militants were killed.

Shortly after midnight, security officials said Pakistani forces successfully targeted and destroyed what they described as the Afghan Taliban’s Barikot base near the Chitral sector.

According to officials, Afghan Taliban elements had also attempted to target Pakistani check posts using quadcopters earlier in the evening, but the attempt was foiled after troops shot down the unmanned devices before they could cause damage.

Security officials further claimed that following sustained retaliatory fire, Afghan Taliban fighters vacated positions near the Torkham border, allegedly withdrawing equipment by truck. These claims have not been independently verified.

The situation escalated further when, according to security and hospital sources, Afghan shelling struck civilian areas in Bajaur. Mortar rounds reportedly landed in Laghari and surrounding areas, injuring five civilians, including three women. The injured were shifted to Khar Hospital where treatment is ongoing.

Security officials also alleged that a mosque in Bajaur was hit during Afghan shelling, causing damage to its roof and structure.

Officials maintained that no Pakistani post has been captured or damaged and that no Pakistani soldier has been reported captured or martyred so far.

They further accused Afghan Taliban-linked media outlets of circulating false claims and fabricated videos to distort the ground situation.

Security sources also referred to the ongoing retaliatory action as “Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq,” stating that the response will continue across active sectors until hostile firing ceases. There has, however, been no formal public announcement of the operation name by the Ministry of Defence or ISPR at the time of filing this report.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting earlier reiterated that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and ensure the safety and security of its citizens.

Intermittent firing was still being reported in some sectors at the time of filing this report early Thursday. Independent confirmation from across the border was not immediately available.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026