Pakistan launches strikes in Afghanistan, kills 70 militants from Gul Bahadur group

Pakistan’s security forces carried out a series of precision strikes on the night of October 17 targeting hideouts of the Gul Bahadur group in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, killing more than 70 militants, including several top commanders, security sources confirmed Saturday.

The strikes, described by officials as “highly targeted and intelligence-driven,” marked one of the deadliest operations against the group, which has been accused of orchestrating cross-border terrorist attacks inside Pakistan from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Officials said the group was behind multiple assaults in recent months, including an attempted vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack in the Khadi area of North Waziristan earlier the same day. That attack was foiled, but three women, two children, and one soldier were killed in the explosion, they added.

As per the sources, among those killed in the October 17 operation were several senior figures in the Gul Bahadur network, including Farman alias Al-Karama, Sadiqullah Dawar, Ghazi Madakhel, Muqarrab, and Qismatullah.

Others eliminated included Gulab alias Deewana, Rehmani, Adil, and Fazlur Rehman, who was identified as a close relative of the group’s leader, Gul Bahadur, sources confirmed

Security sources further reported that Ashiqullah alias Kausar and Younas, both senior operatives, were also among the dead.

Officials described the operation as a “major counterterrorism success,” saying the elimination of the group’s key leadership dealt a significant blow to the Gul Bahadur network’s ability to launch future attacks.

The strikes come amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border following deadly clashes earlier this month.

Hostilities flared in early October when Pakistan allegedly launched air raids on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan’s Khost and Paktika provinces. Kabul condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty, triggering days of cross-border fire.

Pakistan reported 23 soldiers killed, while Afghan officials said at least 15 civilians and militants were among the dead, with hundreds injured on both sides.

The violence led to the closure of major border crossings, further straining Afghanistan’s economy, which heavily depends on trade with Pakistan.

A 48-hour ceasefire, arranged with mediation reportedly involving Qatar and Saudi Arabia, began on October 15. On Friday, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to extend the truce until the conclusion of ongoing talks in Doha.

A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, held crucial talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha on Saturday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed.

The discussions aim to halt cross-border militant attacks originating from Afghan territory and restore stability along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.