On the night of October 17th, Pakistan security officials confirmed that highly targeted and precise strikes were conducted against terrorist hideouts of the Kharji Gul Bahadur group in areas of Paktika, Afghanistan. According to credible intelligence reports cited by security officials, more than 70 Kharji militants, including key commanders, were eliminated in these operations. The Kharji Gul Bahadur group has been implicated in numerous major terrorist attacks within Pakistan, often infiltrating from Afghanistan. These precision strikes on October 17th resulted in the deaths of several key terrorist ringleaders, including Kharji Farman alias Al-Karama, Kharji Sadiqullah Dawar, Kharji Ghazi Madakhel, Kharji Muqarrab, and Kharji Qismatullah, according to security officials. Other eliminated militants identified by officials include Kharji Gulab alias Deewana, Kharji Rehmani, Kharji Adil, and Kharji Fazlur Rehman, who was a close relative of Kharji Gul Bahadur. Kharji Ashiqullah alias Kausar and Kharji Younas also reportedly died in the strikes. Security officials stated that the elimination of these individuals represents a significant operational success against the network. The same Kharji Gul Bahadur group had attempted a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attack in Khadi, North Waziristan, on October 17th, which was foiled. However, this foiled attack resulted in the martyrdom of three women, two children, and one soldier, according to security officials. A local journalist, Amir Dawar Zalanad, identified the children and youth among the victims as belonging to two different families, with four members of one family losing their lives. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group had claimed responsibility for the attack on a military facility in the Khadi area. Separately, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and DG ISI Lt. General Asim Malik conveyed that Pakistan will retaliate against all acts of terrorism, following a drone attack in Pakistan's Bajaur district on October 18th, 2025, at 7:30 PM UTC, which injured security personnel and killed one. This statement was made amidst ongoing talks in Doha between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the Afghan delegation reportedly expressed an inability to take decisive action against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan has proposed joint operations or tacit approval for targeted strikes if the Taliban lack capacity. There are also concerns that India and the Taliban could conspire to carry out a false flag operation in Kashmir and blame it on Pakistan, potentially using video confessions of captured militants. Reports indicate that the Taliban and TTP have been allies since before 2021, with the Taliban releasing TTP leaders from Afghan jails after taking control of Kabul.
