Security sources said on Saturday that Afghan Taliban forces resorted to unprovoked firing in the Taida sector of Upper Kurram and Ghozgarhi, drawing a strong and effective retaliation from the Pakistan Army. The sources stated that the Taliban opened fire to facilitate the crossing of foreign terrorists, prompting the Pakistan Army to respond effectively by targeting the Taliban's Topser post and Shipola base camp.
Several Afghan Taliban personnel were killed along the Ghozgarhi border, while the Shipola base camp was destroyed during the retaliatory action. They added that Taliban personnel abandoned a border post following the Pakistan Army's response.
Earlier this month, Pakistan conducted well-planned and calibrated aerial strikes on terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, killing multiple militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, according to the Ministry of Information. In a statement issued on October 1, the ministry said that the strikes were carried out as part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq and Pakistan's resolve to eliminate terrorists, their networks, and supporters.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan recorded its highest monthly number of militant attacks in 12 years during September 2026, posing serious challenges to regional stability and national security forces.
According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based independent think tank, 225 militant attacks were recorded across the country in September. This figure compared with 199 attacks in August, reflecting an increase of 13 percent, as militant attacks have steadily increased for the third consecutive month.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, months after the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025 following clashes along several border points. Despite multiple rounds of talks, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to resolve their differences, with the issue of militant groups operating from Afghan soil remaining a major point of contention.