Intense clashes erupted between Pakistani and Afghan forces on the border in Shurqo, Kurram district, Pakistan, starting around 5:50 PM Pakistan Standard Time on February 26, 2026, according to an official source cited by Khorasan Diary on X during the reporting window from 2:46 PM to 3:46 PM UTC. Fire exchanges occurred between Khyber district and Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. This border incident follows a separate attack in Pakistan's Balochistan province where sepoy Khalil Ahmed was killed in a roadside explosion on the RCD highway in Surab Town earlier today, as previously reported. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, expressing condolences to victims' families in a statement released February 26, 2026. In Afghanistan, residents in Takhar province rose up against the Taliban this afternoon, prompting Taliban forces to open fire and kill two civilians while injuring eight others, according to reports from @hrw, @IHRF_English, and @aamajnews_24 on X. Separately in Panjshir, Taliban shot and killed 54-year-old farmer Abdul Sabur Sarwari around 10 PM local time on February 25 while he watered cherry trees, with his body not yet returned to family, as reported by Aamaj News. In Bannu, Pakistan, armed men released three PDMA officials from Mandi Bakakhel, according to local reports on X. In South Waziristan's Wana area, armed individuals from a banned organization announced a ceasefire until the 5th day of Eid via mosque announcements in Karmazi Staff, Birmal Tehsil, as cited by @Natsecjeff and @a_siab.
