Intense explosions, believed to be the result of cross-border artillery fire, reverberated through parts of Mohmand district along the Pak-Afghan border late on Friday night, sending waves of panic through nearby communities.

Residents of multiple villages told Dawn that the first blasts were heard shortly after sunset, followed by intermittent shelling that continued for several hours.

“It felt as if the ground beneath us was trembling,” said Habib Gul, a resident of a border village.“We have experienced tensions in the past, but the intensity last night was different. The children were terrified.”

Witnesses also reported the sound of fighter jets roaring overhead and helicopters flying at unusually low altitudes.

By early morning, the situation appeared relatively calm, though a heightened security presence was observed in certain areas.

Some villagers claimed to have seen smoke rising from distant hills along the border belt. There was no immediate official statement confirming the nature of the exchange, nor any verified reports of casualties at the time this report was filed.