Pakistan's ongoing cross-border operations against alleged TTP and affiliated militant camps in eastern and southern Afghanistan continue to define trader focus, driven by repeated attacks inside Pakistan including the September 18 Kohat assault that killed 31. Islamabad conducted multiple airstrikes in late September and early October targeting hideouts in Kunar, Helmand, Paktika, and other provinces, with the army chief affirming on October 2 that such targeted actions would persist under self-defense claims. Afghan Taliban responses have included drone launches, border exchanges, and civilian casualty allegations, while mediation efforts by China and others have not halted the cycle. Key variables ahead include any further high-casualty incidents inside Pakistan, additional Pakistani strikes before year-end, or shifts in Taliban cooperation on militant sanctuaries along the Durand Line.