Pakistani military artillery pounded Afghan posts along the Chitral border between 2:07 PM and 2:37 PM UTC on October 12th, 2025, according to ForumStrategic. This action continues ongoing military operations and follows earlier strikes and clashes between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. The Pakistani Air Force also reportedly began striking Afghan Taliban forces near the border during this period, as indicated by a social media report. Regional powers are increasingly engaging with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, with China and Russia having official ambassadors in Kabul, and Central Asian republics like Uzbekistan warming to Kabul. Even Iran, which had past tensions with the Taliban, seeks to maintain engagement. India has three primary goals regarding Afghanistan: protecting its $3 billion investment (2001-2021), ensuring Afghan soil is not used by anti-India elements, and preventing the Taliban from becoming an external arm of Pakistan's establishment. Despite China's efforts, Pakistan-Afghan relations are deteriorating, with Pakistan reportedly backing some ISIS elements within Afghanistan while Afghanistan provides refuge to the Pakistani Taliban. Local tribals in the Kurram frontline are reportedly observing the situation with a sense of normalcy, described as akin to local brawls during sectarian infighting, according to a social media post. Reports from earlier in the day indicated that Pakistani forces had continued strikes against Afghan Taliban positions, including UCAV strikes on Shapola Khula Afghan Taliban Post and Barikot Base Camp, following earlier airstrikes and clashes. The Pakistani Defense Minister had previously characterized these actions as a response to "unprovoked firing and raids" by the Afghan Taliban.
