Pakistan and Afghan Taliban Exchange Fire in Upper Kurram

Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban personnel exchanged fire at several points along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on October 17, as Pakistani security sources said the military retaliated against firing in Upper Kurram. The sources reported that several Afghan Taliban personnel were killed and a base camp destroyed, claims that have not been independently verified. The firing was reported in the Taida and Ghuz Garhi areas of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, across the border from Paktia in Afghanistan. Pakistani security sources said Afghan Taliban forces opened fire and alleged the action was intended to facilitate militants crossing into Pakistan. Pakistani forces responded with artillery fire targeting the Top Sar post and Shipola base camp, according to those sources. They said the Shipola facility was destroyed and Taliban personnel abandoned a border post. Three Pakistani security officials told the Associated Press that troops also killed an unspecified number of Pakistani Taliban militants attempting to cross from eastern Afghanistan during the clashes. The officials spoke anonymously, saying they were not authorized to address the media. The reported...