National Guard troops sent to Illinois by President Donald Trump can stay in the state and under federal control, but can’t be deployed to protect federal property or go on patrol for now, an appeals court ruled Saturday.
Clashes erupt between Pakistan Army and Afghan forces along border
Clashes erupted between the Pakistan Army and Afghan forces following gunfire at multiple locations along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan on October 12, 2025, reports 24brussels.
The violent exchange commenced when Taliban forces allegedly opened fire on several Pakistani border posts late Saturday night. In response, Pakistani security forces targeted multiple Afghan positions. Security officials reported significant damage was inflicted on Afghan posts and militant formations during the counteroffensive.
Firing occurred at several strategic locations, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan. Sources indicated that the gunfire aimed to facilitate the illegal entry of Khwarij, the state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), into Pakistani territory.
Reports suggest that dozens of Afghan soldiers and Khwarij militants were killed in the retaliatory fire. Taliban border forces claimed the clashes were a response to accusations that Islamabad had carried out airstrikes in the Afghan capital earlier in the week. The Afghan military stated that “in retaliation for the air strikes by Pakistani forces,” Taliban forces were engaged in intense clashes against Pakistani positions along the border.
Officials from Taliban-controlled provinces including Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand confirmed the ongoing clashes. Islamabad has not admitted to any involvement in the airstrikes but urged Kabul to cease harboring TTP operatives on its territory.
Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed concern on social media regarding Pakistan’s reported strikes in Kabul, labeling them a “huge escalation” and a dangerous development. He advocated for dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul, emphasizing that military actions would not resolve the issues of terrorism on both sides of the Durand Line.
On Thursday, Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah announced that an explosion was heard in Kabul; however, no damage reports were confirmed, and investigations were in progress. A statement indicated that there was no cause for alarm regarding the explosion.
Earlier statements from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that “collateral damage” could not be ruled out as a response should Pakistani security forces come under attack, asserting that “enough is enough.” This increase in hostilities occurs concurrently with a significant visit by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, marking the first high-level delegation from Kabul since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.