Strikes followed multiple cross-border terror attempts during 48-hour ceasefire, says Attaullah Tarar
Smoke billows from the Afghanistan side following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces, as seen from the border crossing in Chaman, Balochistan province on October 15. Photo: Reuters
Intelligence sources have confirmed the killing of several senior commanders belonging to the Kharji Gul Bahadur group in Pakistan’s overnight precision strikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.
According to security officials, the strikes targeted the terrorists network’s key command elements, eliminating several senior figures linked to cross-border attacks in Pakistan.
Those killed include Kharji Farman, Kharji Sadiqullah Dawar, Kharji Ghazi Madakhel, Kharji Muqarrab, Kharji Qismatullah, Kharji Gulab, Kharji Rehmani, Kharji Adil, Kharji Fazlur Rehman — who is uncle of Kharji Gul Bahadur — as well as Kharji Aashiqullah and Kharji Younas, the sources said.
Security sources described the Kharji Gul Bahadur group as a long-standing threat responsible for numerous terrorist attacks inside Pakistan that have killed and injured scores of civilians and members of the armed forces.
The group was directly linked to the October 17 vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack in Khadi, North Waziristan, that left three women, two children, and one soldier dead, and wounded six other military personnel.
In a separate incident the same night, police intercepted another VBIED in Bannu, preventing what officials said could have been a “major terrorist strike.”
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for launching attacks against Pakistan, officials added.
Verified camps of Kharji Gul Bahadur targetted
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan had carried out precision strikes on verified camps of the Kharji Gul Bahadur group along the Pak-Afghan border, killing around 60 to 70 Kharjis.
“Against Kharjis of the Gul Bahadur group, precision strikes were undertaken last night. In these strikes, a minimum of 60–70 Kharjis and their leadership have been sent to hell based on confirmed intelligence reports,” Tarar said in a post on X.
Pakistan struck verified camps of Kharji Gul Bahadur in border areas of North and South Waziristan districts along Pak-Afghan border.
During 48 hours-long ceasefire, Kharjis operating from Afghanistan, attempted to launch multiple terrorists attacks inside Pakistan which were…— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) October 18, 2025
He said Pakistan targeted verified camps of the Kharji Gul Bahadur group located in border areas of North and South Waziristan districts along the Pak-Afghan border. During a 48-hour ceasefire, Kharjis operating from inside Afghanistan attempted to launch multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan, which were effectively repelled by security forces.
“During the effective response by security forces, more than 100 Kharjis were sent to hell. Kharjis from the Gul Bahadur group also carried out a vehicle-borne IED attack in North Waziristan, in which civilians and a soldier embraced shahadat, while several others were injured,” he added.
Tarar dismisses reports of civilian casualties
Dismissing reports of civilian casualties as false and malicious, Tarar said, “All speculations and assertions regarding the targeting of civilians are false and aimed at generating support for terrorist groups operating from inside Afghanistan.”
“Pakistan sincerely believes that the way forward lies in resolving this complex issue of Indian-sponsored terrorism emanating from Afghan soil through dialogue and through the Afghan authorities’ control over non-state actors,” he said.
Tarar added that Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its territorial integrity and protect the lives of its people. “We shall not allow terrorists operating from inside Afghanistan to live in peace,” he asserted.
Doha talks
Earlier in a day a high-level Pakistani delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, arrived in Doha, Qatar, to hold talks with the Afghan Taliban, focusing on immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism and restore peace along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The Taliban delegation is headed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Minister of Defence, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob “Mujahid,” and includes Chief of Intelligence Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq.
A high-level delegation from Pakistan, led by our Minister of Defence, will hold discussions with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today. The talks will focus on immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore…
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 18, 2025
Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, confirmed on his official X account that the delegation has traveled to Doha and urged its forces to refrain from any new movements despite reserving the right to respond to Pakistani strikes, to preserve the dignity and standing of its negotiating team.
The Pakistani delegation landed around 2:00pm PST, while the Taliban delegation arrived earlier to commence talks.
‘Precision strikes’ in Kandahar, Kabul
On October 15, Pakistan carried out ‘precision strikes’ against Afghan Taliban regime and terrorist hideouts in Kandahar and Kabul, destroying several Taliban battalion headquarters, according to security sources.
In Kandahar, the Pakistan Army struck Battalion Headquarters 4 and 8, as well as Border Brigade 5. “All targets were carefully selected to strike that were isolated from civilian populations and were successfully destroyed,” said security officials.
In Kabul, the operation targeted the leadership and central hub of the Fitna al-Hindustan network. Security sources emphasised, Pakistan Army is fully capable of giving befitting response to any act of aggression.
“These operations demonstrate our capability to precisely neutralise terrorist infrastructure while minimising risks to civilians,” officials added.
Afghan Taliban regime’s request for ceasefire
Later, Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire. According to the ministry, the decision was made at the Taliban’s request and with the mutual consent of both sides.
During the ceasefire, both parties will hold constructive dialogue to make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to a complex but solvable issue, the ministry added.
“This temporary pause aims at creating space for meaningful discussions and promote stability along the border,” the ministry said in a statement.
Tensions escalated after unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban regime
Tensions along the Pak-Afghan border escalated last week when clashes erupted after Afghan Taliban regime opened unprovoked fire at multiple locations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, prompting a swift and forceful response from the Pakistan Army, which destroyed several Afghan posts and killed dozens of Afghan soldiers and militants.
The coordinated assault originated across several key sectors, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Baramcha in Balochistan. The firing, security sources said, was aimed at facilitating the illegal entry of Khwarij — the state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — into Pakistani territory.
“The Pakistan Army responded immediately and decisively,” security sources said. “The counteroffensive effectively targeted and destroyed multiple Afghan posts at border. Dozens of Afghan soldiers and Khwarij were killed in retaliatory fire.”
Over 200 Afghan Taliban killed
A day after Pakistan Army said its security forces killed more than 200 Afghan Taliban in overnight clashes along the Pak-Afghan border, while confirming that 23 of its soldiers were martyred during the crossfire, according to the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations.
According to an ISPR, the confrontation took place on the night of October 11–12, when Afghan Taliban forces, supported by “Indian-sponsored elements of Fitna al Khwarij,” launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan along the border.
Read More: Over 200 Afghan troops killed
“The cowardly action, which included fire and a few physical raids, was aimed at destabilizing the border areas to facilitate terrorism, furthering FAK’s nefarious designs,” the statement said. Fitna al Khwarij is a term coined by the state for terrorists affiliated with the proscribed outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
ISPR said that, exercising the right of self-defence, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively along the entire border and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban forces and affiliated Khwarijs.
“Precision fires and strikes, as well as physical raids, were directed against Taliban camps and posts, terrorist training facilities, and support networks operating from Afghan territory, including elements linked to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), Fitna al Hindustan (FAH), and ISKP/Daesh. All possible measures were taken to avoid collateral damage and to protect civilian lives,” the statement added.
