A Taliban spokesperson claimed on October 12th, 2025, that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 25 army posts were captured by Afghanistan in retaliation for Pakistani provocations, according to a statement posted on X by @teepusahab at 4:07 PM UTC. This statement comes amidst Pakistan's ongoing "Operation Khyber Storm," which entered Phase II at approximately 3:37 PM UTC, aiming to eliminate the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Afghanistan. The Pakistani military had announced forces were "inside Afghanistan" executing the operation, following artillery strikes on Afghan posts near the Chaman Border. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that due to the shift in relations with Afghanistan, Afghan refugees who have resided in Pakistan for fifty years must return to their homeland and that Pakistan must free its economy from their control, according to a statement shared on X by @MCIAZayyan at 4:17 PM UTC. Asif also posted a cryptic message on X stating, "They also fed you," as reported by @KhawajaMAsif at 4:07 PM UTC. Afghan defense forces issued a message to Pakistan, asserting they fought with only 10% of their strength and that if Pakistan dares to violate Afghan territory again, they will use 100% of their power, as posted on X by @AFGDefense at 3:57 PM UTC. Separately, @TimesAFg1 reported on X at 4:01 PM UTC, citing credible sources, that hundreds of young soldiers have fled and abandoned their duties within the Pakistani army over the past few days. Video evidence posted by @Irves_Watch at 4:27 PM UTC allegedly shows "boys going in to capture Afghan post along Balochistan-Kandahar border" last night. Two Pakistani soldiers, Saad and Gulzar, were reported to have been killed fighting the Taliban, as stated by @teepusahab on X at 4:07 PM UTC. This follows earlier developments on October 12th, 2025, including Pakistani airstrikes on TTP training centers in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, and artillery strikes near the Chaman Border and Chitral, as detailed in previous reports. Pakistani Defense Minister Ishaq Dar had previously characterized these actions as a "befitting response" to "unprovoked firing and raids" by the Afghan Taliban.
