Iran-Israel10 October, 20252 min read
Pakistan Launches Airstrikes on Kabul to Assassinate TTP Chief Noor Wali Mehsud
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Pakistan conducted airstrikes targeting TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud in Kabul. Explosions and gunfire were reported near TTP and al-Qaeda safehouses in eastern Kabul.
6 outlets told this the same way.
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Pakistan Airstrikes Target TTP Leader
Multiple outlets report that Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud, with key details differing by source. West Asian outlet PressTV reports “two powerful explosions” in eastern Kabul’s District 8 near Abdul Haq Square amid “speculation of a targeted Pakistani airstrike” against Mehsud. Asian outlets Free Press Journal and Goa Chronicle say Pakistan struck on the evening of October 9 and describe it as Pakistan’s first cross‑border airstrike in Kabul aimed at Mehsud’s hideout.
“Pakistan reportedly conducted airstrikes in Kabul, Afghanistan, on the evening of October 9, targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud.”
Bhaskar English adds that “several TTP bases” in Kabul were hit, framing the operation as a broader leadership‑targeting campaign. Afghan Taliban officials, according to PressTV, downplayed the incident, reporting no casualties, even as eyewitnesses described blasts, gunfire, and aircraft overhead.
Conflicting Reports on Mehsud Strike
Accounts diverge sharply on Mehsud’s fate and the strike’s outcome. Free Press Journal reports initial claims that Mehsud was killed, but says an audio message attributed to him the next day denied this, creating confusion. Goa Chronicle similarly says the strike failed as Noor Wali quickly denied being hit and remained defiant.
PressTV underscores the uncertainty, stating that neither Afghan nor Pakistani authorities have confirmed Mehsud’s fate or Islamabad’s involvement. Bhaskar English reports Pakistani media claims that the air force killed Mehsud, reflecting the competing narratives.
Context of TTP-related Strike
Sources frame the rationale and backdrop of the operation differently. Goa Chronicle links the operation to a surge in TTP violence and failed 2021–2022 talks. It notes Noor Wali’s demands to reverse FATA’s merger and impose full Sharia, demands that Islamabad rejected.
“Pakistan attempted peace talks mediated by the Taliban between 2021 and 2022, but TTP leader Noor Wali rejected compromise, demanding the reversal of FATA’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and full Sharia implementation—both demands Islamabad refused.”
The source also highlights the TTP’s territorial resurgence by 2023. PressTV situates the strike within rising cross-border tensions after Pakistan’s defense minister accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP militants.
Bhaskar English echoes allegations that Mehsud operates from Afghanistan with Taliban support. Together, these accounts present an intensified insurgency, contested sanctuaries, and political strain as drivers behind the strike.
Details of Cross-Border Operation
Operational details and reactions vary. PressTV cites eyewitnesses who heard blasts and gunfire and saw drones or fighter jets. Taliban forces boosted security and conducted vehicle searches afterward, even as officials reported no casualties.
Bhaskar English describes a broader battle-space, saying multiple TTP bases were hit to target the leadership. Free Press Journal anchors the timeline to October 9. Goa Chronicle characterizes the operation as Pakistan’s first cross-border strike in Kabul, aimed at Mehsud’s hideout.
The operation was intended to emulate India’s OPERATION SINDOOR. Goa Chronicle adds that Pakistan’s effort appeared desperate rather than controlled.
Analysis of Cross-Border Strikes
The broader implications of the operations are contested. PressTV warns that such operations risk escalating cross-border tensions amid accusations that Kabul shelters the TTP. Bhaskar English highlights the diplomatic context, noting that the strikes coincided with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s seven-day visit to India.
“The incident follows recent accusations by Pakistan’s Defense Minister that the Afghan Taliban are sheltering TTP militants, raising concerns that such operations could escalate cross-border tensions.”
Goa Chronicle contrasts India’s confident punitive model with Pakistan’s strike, which it describes as appearing “desperate,” implying a difference in perceived intent rather than capability. Free Press Journal emphasizes the unresolved outcome and confusion, reinforcing the uncertainty surrounding both the operation’s success and its diplomatic fallout.
