Islamabad, October 17,2026: Pakistani security forces responded to what state media described as unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Kurram district on Saturday, reportedly destroying several Taliban positions.
State broadcaster PTV News and the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), citing security sources, reported that Afghan Taliban forces opened fire in the Taldah sector to “facilitate terrorists” along the border.
PTV News said the Pakistan Army responded with heavy weapons, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts and forcing their personnel to flee.
APP quoted security sources as saying that several Afghan Taliban personnel were reportedly killed during the army’s retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border.
The sources said Pakistani forces targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire in the Upper Kurram sector. The Shipola base camp was reportedly completely destroyed.
The exchange of fire was still ongoing in the area, APP reported, citing security sources.
The border clashes came a day after the Foreign Office (FO) said talks with Afghanistan could not be unconditional, while rejecting suggestions that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with its neighbour.
At its weekly media briefing, FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan remained open to dialogue and welcomed 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 promoting regional peace and stability,” he said.
His remarks followed Russia’s renewed offer to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islamabad, however, said it was unaware of any formal initiative.
“At present, I am not aware of any separate, formal Russian mediation initiative being under discussion,” Khan said.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained in recent years, with Islamabad repeatedly expressing concern over cross-border terrorism.
The two countries witnessed another round of hostilities in September. On September 21, Pakistan carried out what it described as “calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in the Afghan border region in response to major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government said more than 28 terrorists were killed.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the strikes as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, launched on the night of February 26 in response to what Pakistan called unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.
Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that had entered its airspace near Torkham and Kohat. Reports also said Afghan Taliban forces had opened fire near Kurram the previous night as Pakistani security forces thwarted an attempt by terrorists to enter the country.
In response to the drone incursion, Pakistan conducted what it described as “precision aerial and drone strikes” at 10 locations across Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office also said it delivered a demarche to the Afghan side on September 26 over the September 23 airspace violation involving drones.
On October 1, Pakistan carried out further “well-planned and calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, the Information Ministry said, reporting that multiple terrorists had been killed.
The latest border exchange underscores continuing security tensions between the two neighbours, even as Islamabad maintains that dialogue remains possible if its security concerns are addressed.
