Pakistan’s armed forces say they have destroyed 27 Afghan Taliban military posts and taken control of nine others as part of an ongoing cross-border campaign named Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. According to military sources, 133 Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 injured during the fighting, while two Pakistani soldiers lost their lives and one was wounded.
The operation was launched in response to what Pakistan described as unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Counter-strikes were carried out at multiple locations inside Afghanistan, including Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, targeting military infrastructure.
READ MORE: Pakistan observes seventh anniversary of Operation Swift Retaliation
Security officials reported that five Afghan positions were captured in Paktia, where the Pakistani flag was raised. Additional posts opposite Shawal, Angoor Ada, and Zarmelan were also seized, while the Afghan terminal at Angoor Ada was destroyed.
Among the 27 posts destroyed were Charlie Post and Babri Post, while nine positions were taken over by Pakistani forces. State-run Pakistan Television Corporation reported that some Afghan Taliban units raised white flags following the retaliation.
Military officials said the strikes also destroyed two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, two ammunition depots, and a logistics base. More than 80 tanks, artillery pieces, and armored personnel carriers were reportedly eliminated during the operation.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X that operations inside Afghanistan were ongoing and had inflicted heavy losses. He described the action as a swift and effective response to alleged cross-border firing by Afghan Taliban forces.
Security sources added that an attempted quadcopter attack on Pakistani check posts was thwarted, with the drones shot down. They said Afghan forces opened fire in several border regions, including Nawagai in Bajaur, Tirah in Khyber, Mohmand district, and the Arandu sector in Chitral, prompting retaliatory strikes that destroyed Afghan checkpoints.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed on social media that Pakistani airstrikes had occurred in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. Journalists from Agence France-Presse reported hearing loud explosions in Kabul, followed by fighter jets and sustained gunfire, with residents saying blasts continued for around 40 minutes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully prepared to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, vowing there would be no compromise on national security. President Asif Ali Zardari echoed the message, warning that those responsible for continued violence would be held accountable.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the Afghan Taliban’s actions as a serious miscalculation and said they would face consequences.
Officials confirmed that security forces remain on high alert along the western border as operations continue and the situation develops. Meanwhile, mortar shells reportedly fired by Afghan Taliban fighters struck the Laghrai area of Bajaur, injuring five civilians, including three women. Authorities also said a mosque in Bajaur was hit, causing structural damage to its roof and walls.
For the latest news, follow us on Facebook DAILY HAYAT - Mirpur A.J.K
