PESHAWAR: Precision airstrikes conducted by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s Paktika province have reportedly killed over 71 Khawarij militants, including high-ranking commanders. Security sources confirmed that the strikes targeted four key hideouts, including a suicide vest factory and the Umar Media Cell, a significant operational hub for the group.
“This is not the first instance of Pakistan taking decisive action across the border,” a senior security official remarked. Previous operations, including drone strikes, inflicted heavy losses on terrorist networks in Afghanistan. Despite assurances from the Afghan Taliban to prevent attacks on Pakistan originating from Afghan soil, those promises have not been upheld.
The official emphasized, “The Afghan Taliban must take concrete steps against these terrorists if they wish to maintain positive ties with Pakistan and China. Pakistan will continue targeting Khawarij sanctuaries until they are completely eradicated.”
Intercepted communications from the strike zones revealed chaos among militants, with some urging others to flee and lamenting their lack of local support. Officials stressed that the strikes were surgical, avoiding harm to civilians, mosques, and religious seminaries. “This operation sends a clear message: Pakistan will pursue these enemies relentlessly. The fight is far from over,” the source added.
Propaganda and Accuracy
Security officials dismissed reports from Afghan and Indian media claiming civilian casualties. They clarified that the images being circulated were actually from the 2023 Afghanistan earthquake. The strikes, based on credible intelligence, specifically targeted terrorist locations, safeguarding surrounding civilian areas.
Key militant figures eliminated in the strikes include Sher Zaman alias Mukhlish Yar, Akhtar Muhammad alias Khalil, Izhar alias Hamza, and Shoaib Cheema. These individuals were integral to the administrative and operational framework of the group.
Rising Cross-Border Tensions
According to AFP, the Taliban government in Afghanistan claimed that 46 civilians were killed in the airstrikes. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid labeled the strikes as “barbaric” and “aggressive,” vowing retaliation to defend Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
A senior Pakistani security official refuted the Taliban’s claims, maintaining that only terrorist hideouts were targeted, with at least 20 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants killed. “The allegations of civilian harm are baseless propaganda,” the official stated, adding that the strikes were necessitated by the Taliban’s inadequate response to Pakistan’s repeated calls for action against the TTP.
The TTP, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting refugee residences, an allegation dismissed by Pakistani authorities. Officials have signaled that such operations will continue as long as necessary to neutralize threats.
This escalation highlights the ongoing tension between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, with Pakistan seeking decisive action against cross-border terrorism while the Taliban faces mounting criticism for failing to honor past commitments.
