Pakistani Army Fire Kills Afghan Journalist, Injures Another, Speculation of Drone Strike
An Afghan journalist was killed and another reporter injured on 15 October 2025 when Pakistani forces opened fire near the Durand Line in Afghanistan's Khost province. The attack occurred while the two journalists were reporting on a counter-offensive by Afghan forces in the Palotso area of Zazi Maidan District.
The slain journalist has been identified as Abdul Ghafoor Abid of Paktia National Radio Television. His colleague, Tawab Arman, was injured in the attack and later rescued by Afghan forces. There is speculation that the journalist died in a cross-border drone strike.
Abid's body was recovered from the Zazimidan District of Khost Province and later brought to Paktia, where many people were present to view the journalist's body.
The body of the martyred journalist, Abdul Ghafoor Abid, a reporter for Afghanistan National Television, was transferred from Khost province to Paktia.
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According to a Taliban spokesperson, the Pakistani military launched the attack at 4 a.m. on October 15. Afghan fighters retaliated. Firing continued from both sides until 8 a.m. According to media reports, Pakistan also carried out an airstrike in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are rising. Border checkpoints between the two countries have been closed since October 12th. Pakistan and Afghanistan recently agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire.
Under the ceasefire, both sides are expected to cease hostilities and continue negotiations to resolve ongoing conflicts. Pakistan said in a statement that the pause in fighting would provide an opportunity to make "sincere efforts" toward finding a positive solution to the growing cross-border disputes.
