ISLAMABAD: Security forces responded to unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Kurram district, state broadcaster PTV News reported on Saturday.
PTV News and state-run APP, citing security sources, said Afghan Taliban forces opened fire in the Taidah sector of Upper Kurram to “facilitate the infiltration of terrorists” across the border.
The army responded with heavy weapons, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts and forcing their personnel to flee, PTV News reported.
Meanwhile, APP quoted security sources as saying that several Afghan Taliban personnel were “reportedly killed during the Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border”.
The sources further said in the Upper Kurram sector, the army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire, reportedly destroying the latter completely.
The exchange of fire was continuing in the area, APP quoted security sources as saying.
The border skirmishes came a day after the Foreign Office said that talks with Afghanistan could not be unconditional. However, it rejected suggestions that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with its neighbour 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,” FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at the weekly media briefing.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026
