Capital Under Siege as TLP March Brings Widespread Disruption

Islamabad / Lahore, October 2025 — The capital and its adjoining cities are grappling with one of the most severe disruptions in recent memory, as the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) “Labbaik Ya Aqsa” march advances toward Islamabad amid mounting security and public order concerns.

Thousands of TLP supporters, mobilising in solidarity with Palestinians, attempted to march from Lahore to Islamabad, clashing with police on route. Authorities responded aggressively—digging trenches along the Grand Trunk Road near Gujrat, sealing bridges at Shahbazpur and Khanki, and placing shipping containers on major highways, in a bid to thwart the procession.

By the third day, Islamabad and Rawalpindi remained under near-lockdown. Entry and exit points into the capital were sealed, and the Red Zone was predominantly inaccessible. Containers and barricades blocked major arteries such as Faizabad interchange, Srinagar Highway, Murree Road and other vital junctions.

Residents and commuters have faced immense hardship. Essential goods — vegetables, dairy products and fruit consignments — failed to reach markets, leaving stores depleted and prices soaring. Many small-scale laborers, reliant on daily wages, found themselves jobless for the duration on Public transport services, including the metro, were suspended; ride-hailing apps operated in a limited capacity only. Residents described “being confined in their own homes” and “air thick with tear gas fumes.”

Internet and mobile data services (3G/4G) were suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in a sweeping attempt to curtail mobilisation and coordination among protesters. Meanwhile, more limited restoration was reported in parts of the twin cities as authorities sought to ease the flow.

Violence erupted repeatedly along the route. In Lahore’s outskirts, protesters allegedly attacked police with bricks, rods and sharp weapons, while law enforcement replied with tear gas and rubber bullets. Over a hundred police personnel were reported injured. TLP claimed multiple supporters died in police action—figures that officials have neither confirmed nor denied.

The traders’ community has raised alarms over mounting commercial losses. Goods stored in container trucks, especially perishables, risk spoilage. Demand for reopening roads and restoring internet has grown urgent. In response, the federal government has asked TLP to halt its march and enter negotiations. JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has intervened, urging both sides toward dialogue to avoid further civilian suffering.

As the stand-off enters its fourth day, Pakistan stands at crossroads: either manage a fragile peace, or risk a deepening spiral of unrest, damage, and public alienation.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 12: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday warned Afghanistan that Pakistan was “exercising extreme caution in its defensive response” to the former’s unprovoked firing raids along the border, terming it a “serious provocation”.

In a statement on X, DPM Dar said that he was “deeply concerned” over the development on the Pakistan-Afghan border.

He said that Pakistani strikes targeting Taliban infrastructure were aimed at neutralising Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) aka Fitna al-Khawarij and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), also known as Fitna al-Hindustan terrorist elements operating from the Afghan soil.

Noting that Pakistan’s defensive response was ot targeted towards the peace-loving Afghan civilian population, Dar said that Pakistan “will take all possible measures to defend its own territory, sovereignty and its people”.

“We expect the Taliban Government to take concrete measures against terrorist elements and their perpetrators that wish to derail Pak-Afghan relations,” the DPM remarked.

His remarks come as Pakistan and Afghanistan have been engaged in cross-border skirmishes triggered after Afghan forces opened unprovoked gunfire at several border points, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, and Kurram, while attacks were also reported in Dir, Chitral, Baramcha, and others.

The security sources say that the Taliban fighters have abandoned several bodies and posts before fleeing the area following Pakistan’s powerful counteraction.

Dozens of Afghan soldiers and Khawarij were killed in retaliatory fire, said the sources.

The sources said that the Pakistani forces effectively dispersed militant formations inside Afghanistan after targeting multiple positions sheltering Daesh and Fitna al-Khawarij elements.

The Taliban’s Manojaba battalion headquarters I and II were also wiped out in the strikes. The Durrani camps I and II, which served as launchpads for cross-border attacks, were hit with precision fire, killing at least 50 Taliban fighters, according to security sources.

Reacting to the border clashes, President Zardari said that the country will not compromise on its national sovereignty and that it expects Kabul not to allow its territory to be used by Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

Condemning Afghanistan’s unprovoked aggression, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the Pakistan Army for an effective and befitting response under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir.

“There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s defence,” the premier said, adding that every provocation will be given a befitting and effective reply.

Meanwhile, in retaliation for the Afghan side’s aggression, the Pakistan Army has used artillery, tanks, and both light and heavy weapons in its response, while air assets and drones were also deployed to strike militant hideouts.

The operation targeted Daesh and Khawarij sanctuaries, including Afghan command centres harbouring these militants, the sources said, confirming that terrorist positions and hideouts were also struck inside Afghanistan.

They noted that Afghanistan’s aggression coincided with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, calling it a “notable and concerning development”.

The security sources confirmed that Pakistan seized 19 Afghan posts along the border, which were being used to launch attacks into Pakistan.

Apart from destroying the Afghan Taliban’s base camp opposite the Chitral Sector, Pakistani forces have struck Spin Boldak’s Asmat Ullah Karar camp — one of the largest facilities operated by the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistani forces also destroyed the Taliban’s Second Battalion headquarters, used as a launchpad by Fitna al-Khawarij and Fita al-Hindustan, in the Brabcha area and have hoisted the Pakistani flag.

Furthermore, a tank position was also struck on the Afghan side, resulting in several tanks being destroyed. Additionally, Pakistan struck the Taliban’s Ghaznali headquarters in the Nushki sector, leaving it completely destroyed and resulting in dozens of Taliban fighters and TTP terrorists.

The escalation between the two neighbours has also prompted reactions from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran, with all three countries urging restraint and calling for dialogue.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has also expressed concern over Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes and called for both sides to hold urgent talks to address the tensions.

“Iran is ready to help reduce tensions between neighbours,” Baqaei said.

The latest round of tensions between the neighbouring countries is to be taken against the backdrop of increased terrorist attacks inside Pakistan by outlawed militant groups, TTP, Baloch Liberation Army, etc, operating from the Afghan soil.

Pakistan has time again asked Kabul to prevent its territory from being used against Pakistan with Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, during a recent presser, saying that Pakistan had engaged Afghanistan through multiple channels, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, before and after the Doha agreement.

The military’s spokesperson also said that India was using Afghan soil as a base of operations against Pakistan, with evidence of Indian proxies conducting terror attacks from Afghan territory.

He added that following the US withdrawal, a large cache of American weapons was left behind, much of which ended up in the hands of terrorist groups.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 12 (APP/DNA): Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the incidents of unprovoked firing by Afghan forces on Pakistani territory, calling the act a flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to regional peace.

In a strongly worded statement, the Prime Minister said that firing on civilian populations by Afghan forces was “an open breach of international norms and humanitarian principles.” He emphasized that Pakistan has always exercised restraint, but will not compromise on its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.

“Pakistan’s brave forces have proven—through their immediate and effective response—that any provocation will never be tolerated,” said Naqvi.

He added that Pakistan’s armed forces remain fully alert and prepared to respond decisively to any act of aggression. “Afghanistan is being given a fitting and proportionate response. Any hostile move will be met with strength and resolve,” he said.

The Prime Minister also alleged that the recent escalation by Afghan forces appears to be influenced by Pakistan’s ‘eternal enemy’, hinting at foreign elements trying to destabilize the region.

“The game of fire and blood that Afghanistan is playing has deep links with our adversaries who have always sought to undermine Pakistan’s stability,” Naqvi remarked.

Reaffirming national unity in the face of external aggression, Mohsin Naqvi said the people of Pakistan stand firmly with their armed forces, describing the nation as “a wall of steel” behind its defenders.

“Afghanistan will receive a strong and clear response, just as India did when it tested Pakistan’s patience,” he said, warning that no country should dare look toward Pakistan with ill intent.

Security analysts believe the government’s statement reflects a tougher stance by Islamabad, amid growing tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Sources within the security establishment confirmed that Pakistan’s forces remain on high alert, with additional measures being taken to safeguard border communities.

RAWALPINDI, OCT 12 /DNA/ – On the night of 11/12 Oct 2025, Afghan Taliban and Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan, along the Pak-Afghan border. The cowardly action, which included fire and few physical raids, was aimed at destabilizing the border areas to facilitate terrorism, furthering FAK’s nefarious designs.

Exercising the right of self-defence, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively all along the border and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban Forces and affiliated Khwarjis. Precision fires and strikes, as well as physical raids were directed against Taliban camps and posts, terrorist training facilities and support networks operating from Afghan territory, including elements linked to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), Fitna al Hindustan (FAH) and ISKP/ Daesh. All possible measures were taken to avoid collateral damage and to protect civilian lives.

As a result of these unrelenting operations, multiple Taliban locations were destroyed all along the border; twenty-one (21) hostile positions on the Afghan side of border were also briefly physically captured and multiple terrorist training camps, used to plan and facilitate attacks against Pakistan, were rendered inoperative.

During overnight skirmishes, twenty-three (23) brave sons of Pakistan embraced shahadat while defending territorial integrity of our beloved country against this outrageous action while twenty-nine (29) soldiers are injured. According to credible intelligence estimates and damage assessment, more than two-hundred (200) Taliban and affiliated terrorists have been neutralized while the number of injured is much higher.

The infra-structural damages to Taliban posts, camps, Headquarters and support networks of terrorists are extensive, all along the border and range from tactical to operational depth.

The Armed Forces of Pakistan remain ever ready to protect the territorial integrity, life and property of the people of Pakistan. Our resolve to defend Pakistan’s territorial integrity and to defeat those who threaten our security is unwavering.

While the people of Pakistan prefer constructive diplomacy and dialogue over violence and belligerence, we will not tolerate the treacherous use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan. We have noted with concern that this serious provocation has occurred during the visit of Taliban Foreign Minister to India – the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region. In the interest of regional peace and security, we call upon the Taliban Government to take immediate and verifiable actions to neutralize the terrorist groups, inter alia, FAK, FAH and ISKP/ Daesh operating from their territory. Otherwise, Pakistan will continue to exercise its right to defend its people by persistent neutralization of terror targets. The Taliban Government should shun any ill-begotten notions and prioritize well being, peace, prosperity and development of Afghan people over irresponsible sabre-rattling.

Last night’s episode vindicates Pakistan’s long-standing position that the Taliban Government is actively facilitating the terrorists. If the Taliban Government continues to sponsor terrorist outfits, in cohorts with India, for shortsighted objective of destabilizing the region, the people and the state of Pakistan will not rest until the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is completely eliminated.