Pakistani Army forces advanced approximately 2 km inside Afghanistan's Paktika province on October 12th, 2025, capturing a strategically important hill in the Zear Zoa area of Birmal district by this morning. The advance places Pakistani forces just 3 km from Margha bazaar, according to user @Himat75. This development occurs as Pakistan continues Phase II of "Operation Khyber Storm," which began earlier today and aims to eliminate the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Afghanistan. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also commented on the need for Afghan refugees to return to Pakistan, stating it has taken "50 years" for the country to accommodate them and that Pakistan must "redeem our economy." Further evidence of Pakistani military activity within Afghanistan emerged today with visual confirmation of Pakistan's armor formations inside the country, shared by @ForumStrategic. Additionally, user @NotWoofers reported what appears to be the first combat use of FPV-style strike drones by Pakistan against the Taliban, noting that Pakistan has been experimenting with FPVs and using COTS drones for bombing TTP targets since at least last year. These actions are part of Pakistan's ongoing military operations amidst heightened cross-border tensions. In parallel, user @Himat75 reported that Pakistani forces have prevented local civilians from accessing strategically important hills in the Paktika province, indicating control over key terrain. The earlier launch of Phase II of "Operation Khyber Storm" by Pakistan's military at approximately 3:37 PM UTC on October 12th, 2025, confirmed forces were operating inside Afghanistan, following artillery strikes on Afghan posts near the Chaman Border. These operations are framed by Pakistan as a response to "unprovoked firing and raids" by the Afghan Taliban. Previous reports from earlier in the day detailed artillery strikes on Afghan posts near the Chaman Border, causing Afghan troops to retreat, and airstrikes on TTP training centers in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province. The Pakistani Defence Minister Ishaq Dar had previously characterized these actions as a "befitting response." Amidst the escalating situation, a faction of the TTP, "Tahaffuz Emirat-e-Islamia," claimed responsibility for an attack on a police training center in Dera Ismail Khan, identifying one bomber as Afghan citizen Ajmal alias Khalid.
