Operation Ghazab lil-Haq: 133 Afghan Taliban operatives killed, more than 200 injured, says govt

At least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives have been killed and more than 200 injured after Pakistan’s security forces delivered an “immediate and effective response” to unprovoked cross-border firing, according to government updates.

State media reported that the Pakistan army has seized the Topsar Post in Topsar Sector from the Taliban and hoisted the Pakistani flag, citing security sources.

In a post on X at around 4am, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said strikes took place in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar, with 27 posts destroyed and 9 seized.

Furthermore, “two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters and 80+ tanks, artillery, and APCs (Armoured Personnel Carrier) were destroyed”, he added.

Two Pakistani soldiers were also martyred during the clashes, and three others were wounded in the clashes, the minister had said earlier on X.

According to him, “false and baseless propaganda is being spread by the Afghan Taliban regime and Indian social media accounts, which have no connection to reality.”

“Pakistan’s professional armed forces are crushing the aggressors’ intentions into dust.”

Earlier, the information ministry had said that the Afghan Taliban had opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations across the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was being given an “immediate and effective response”.

The exchange of fire took place in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, where Pakistani forces targeted hostile positions.

Read more: Pakistan carries out strikes along Afghan border to target ‘seven terrorist camps’

“Early reports confirm heavy casualties on the Afghan side with multiple posts and equipment destroyed,” the ministry said, adding that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and ensure the safety of its citizens.

Confirming the development, security sources said Pakistani forces carried out precision strikes during the counter-attack, destroying a Taliban check post in the Chitral sector and two Afghan posts in Bajaur’s Nawagai area.

Militant hideouts were destroyed, forcing fighters to retreat, the sources said.

Security officials maintained that the armed forces remain fully prepared to defend the border and respond decisively to any further aggression.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari said that the State of Pakistan will not compromise on its peace, stability and territorial integrity, as per Radio Pakistan.

“No one should have the misconception that Pakistan will be coerced by pressure or intimidation,” the president said.

“We do not want confrontation, but if anyone considers Pakistan’s peace as weakness, he will face a strong response.”

Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and its armed forces were fully prepared at all times to safeguard the country’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

“Our forces possess the full capability to crush any aggressive designs into dust,” the PM said, adding that the Armed Forces of Pakistan were equipped with professional capabilities, quality training and an effective defensive strategy and are fully capable of dealing with any internal or external challenge.

Similarly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that after the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that there would be peace in Afghanistan and that the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and on peace in the region.

“However, the Taliban turned Afghanistan into a colony of India. They gathered terrorists from all over the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism,” he posted on X.

Pakistan made every effort, directly and through friendly countries, to keep the situation normal, he said.

“However, the Taliban became a proxy of India. Today, when an attempt was made to target Pakistan with aggression, praise be to Allah, our forces are giving a decisive response at this time.”

In the past, Pakistan’s role has been positive. It has hosted 5 million Afghans for 50 years. Even today, millions of Afghans are earning their livelihood on our soil. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is an open war between us and you.”

Furthermore, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the Afghan Taliban regime for targeting the civilian population.

He said that the cowardly enemy struck under the cover of darkness, but Pakistan’s Armed Forces gave a befitting response to their open aggression.

“The Afghan Taliban have made a grave mistake by carrying out the attack. They will have to face serious consequences,” he said.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also condemned Afghanistan’s unprovoked attack on Pakistan.

In a statement on Friday, the finance minister termed the attacks carried out by Afghanistan as acts of cowardice. Aurangzeb also paid tribute to the armed forces for giving a befitting reply to Afghanistan’s aggression.

“The country’s defence is every Pakistani’s top priority. No compromise of any kind will be made on the country’s integrity. All available resources will be utilised for the defence of the homeland,” he said.

Moreover, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan also condemned Afghanistan’s unprovoked aggression.

“Afghanistan’s targeting of the civilian population is condemnable and a clear violation of international laws,” he said in a statement.

“Pakistan will not compromise on its integrity and sovereignty,” Jam added, emphasising that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, remains committed to national defence.

UN’s Türk urges dialogue

Human Rights chief Volker Türk appealed for dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“This situation calls for urgent political dialogue, rather than escalating the use of force,” he said.

‘Pakistan exercised utmost caution to prevent any harm to Afghan civilians’

Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier have remained elevated in recent months amid concerns over cross-border militancy and recurring security incidents.

Tahir Andrabi, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, during his weekly briefing on Thursday, said that Pakistani forces targeted terrorist camps and hideouts in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.

Andrabi reiterated that the intelligence-based selective targeting of these seven terrorist camps and hideouts in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region was primarily aimed at ensuring the safety and security of Pakistani citizens and to prevent imminent terrorist attacks against Pakistan, particularly against our law enforcement officials and our civilians living near the border regions.

He emphasised that the strikes were “proportional, based on careful planning with necessary due diligence and were directed solely against identified terrorist camps and hideouts”, saying, “Pakistan exercised utmost caution to prevent any harm to Afghan civilians.”