Archive · 26 Sep 2026
Pakistan Reports Taliban Fighters Killed After Border Clash
Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces fought near their shared border after about three quiet months.
Pakistan said Taliban fighters tried to enter Pakistan and start an attack.
Pakistani sources said their forces stopped them and killed several fighters, with one report saying 17 were killed.
Shooting reportedly continued for some time afterward.
Pakistan also said it attacked 10 places in Afghanistan connected to drones.
Afghanistan denied involvement in the drone attacks and said civilians were killed by the strikes.
Pakistan says Afghanistan allows the TTP to plan attacks from its territory.
The Taliban government rejects that accusation, so the two sides remain in conflict.
Pakistani sources said forces thwarted an attempted Afghan Taliban entry near Gulistan in Balochistan and killed several fighters; one report put the toll at 17.
Intermittent exchanges of fire reportedly continued after the clash, while Pakistan rejected an Afghan claim that a Pakistani border post had been destroyed.
Pakistan said it conducted strikes on 10 Afghan locations linked to launching and storing drones after reporting eight drones entered its airspace.
Pakistan said earlier September 21 strikes killed 28 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants, while Afghan officials said civilians were killed and others wounded.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering the TTP, while the Taliban government denies the allegation and condemns Pakistan’s strikes.
- Who
- Pakistani security forces and Afghan Taliban forces were involved; Pakistan and Afghanistan disputed the causes and consequences of the violence.
- What
- Pakistan said it thwarted an attempted border attack and killed several Taliban fighters; a separate report said at least 17 were killed.
- When
- The clash was reported on September 25, after strikes on September 21 and September 24.
- Where
- The reported clash occurred near Gulistan in Balochistan, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border; one report also referred to the Chaman sector.
- Why
- Pakistan said the action responded to an attempted entry and aggression, while it linked its broader strikes to alleged drone incursions and attacks by the TTP.
Pakistan’s account
Afghan Taliban’s account
Cause of the border clash
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said Afghan Taliban fighters attempted to enter its territory and commit an act of aggression, prompting a retaliatory response.
Afghan Taliban’s account
The Afghan Taliban did not immediately provide a detailed response to the Gulistan clash; Afghanistan denied involvement in the reported drone attacks.
Airstrike targets and casualties
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said its strikes precisely targeted military sites, drone-launching and storage locations, and TTP facilities, and that earlier strikes killed 28 militants.
Afghan Taliban’s account
The Taliban government condemned the strikes and said they killed Afghan civilians; reports cited either three or four civilian deaths, with additional wounded reported in one account.
Militant activity in Afghanistan
Pakistan’s account
Islamabad says the Taliban administration allows the TTP and allied groups to plan and conduct attacks from Afghan territory.
Afghan Taliban’s account
The Taliban government rejects the accusation and says militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.
- Reported fighter casualties
- Pakistani sources said several Afghan Taliban fighters were killed; one report said at least 17.
- Clash location
- Gulistan sector in Balochistan along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border; the Chaman sector was also mentioned.
- Continuing violence
- Intermittent firing reportedly continued after the initial clash.
- Drone-related strikes
- Pakistan said its forces struck 10 locations in Afghanistan used to launch and store drones.
- Reported drone incursions
- Pakistan said it shot down eight drones near Torkham and Kohat.
- Earlier airstrikes
- Pakistan said September 21 strikes killed 28 TTP militants; Afghan officials disputed this and reported civilian casualties.
- Civilian casualty discrepancy
- Afghan officials reported three civilians killed in one account and four civilians killed in another.
- Diplomatic dispute
- Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of allowing the TTP to operate from its territory; Afghanistan denies the allegation.
Sources
Pakistan thwarts border attack, several Taliban dead, security sources say
Pakistan reports Taliban fighters killed after clash along Afghanistan border - Telegraph India
Pakistan, Taliban forces clash on border after 3 months of relative calm: 17 Afghans reported dead
