ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that security forces killed between 60 and 70 militants including key leaders of the Gul Bahadur Group in targeted operations carried out last night.
In a post on social media platform X, Tarar said Pakistan successfully targeted the camps of Khawarij militants affiliated with the Gul Bahadur Group in border areas of North and South Waziristan adjoining Afghanistan.
He said that during the past 48 hours of ceasefire, Khawarij operating from Afghan soil attempted to infiltrate Pakistani territory and carry out multiple terrorist attacks. However, security forces effectively foiled their attempts, killing more than 100 foreign fighters in retaliatory strikes.
According to the minister, the group also carried out an IED attack on a vehicle in North Waziristan, resulting in the martyrdom of several civilians and a soldier, while others sustained injuries.
Tarar rejected speculations and reports that civilians were targeted during the operations, saying such claims were “false and aimed at creating sympathy” for terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
He added that Pakistan firmly believes that the way forward lies in dialogue and in ensuring that the Afghan government establishes control over non-state actors operating from its soil, particularly those receiving support under Indian patronage.
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
“Pakistan reserves the right to defend its territorial integrity and the lives of its people and will not allow terrorists operating from Afghan soil to remain unchallenged,” the minister stated.
Background
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated since October 11–12, when Afghan Taliban forces opened unprovoked fire across the border.
Following Pakistani airstrikes on terrorist hideouts, Taliban border forces engaged in heavy clashes in several eastern Afghan provinces including Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand.
Security sources said dozens of Afghan militants were killed in retaliatory fire by Pakistani forces, forcing them to retreat.
On October 14, unprovoked firing was again reported from the Afghan side in Kurram, to which Pakistani forces responded promptly, inflicting heavy losses on Taliban positions.
A day later, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that Afghan Taliban fighters launched attacks at four locations near Chaman’s Spin Boldak area, all of which were successfully repelled, killing 15–20 Taliban fighters.
On the same day, Pakistan carried out precision airstrikes targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and in Kabul. The airstrikes were conducted away from civilian areas, after which Pakistan accepted Kabul’s request for a ceasefire.