Air strikes in Afghanistan ‘proportional, based on careful planning’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday that it carried out targeted airstrikes in Afghanistan to ensure the safety of its citizens and to prevent imminent terrorist attacks from across the neighboring country.

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

Following the strikes, Pakistan Information and Broadcasting minister said that “more than 80” terrorists had been killed.

Andrabi reiterated that the intelligence-based selective targeting of these seven terrorist camps and hideouts in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, was primarily aimed to ensure 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.”

He recalled statements made by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in reaction to terrorist attacks against Pakistan, with the latest being about the February 6 attack on imambargah in Islamabad.

Andrabi maintained that the UNSC had “repeatedly underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, abettors, sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”

He further added that the UNSC had also urged states to cooperate with Pakistan in the matter, stressing that Pakistan’s actions must be viewed through the above-mentioned context.

Responding to a question, the spokesperson said that Pakistan remained committed to peace in the region, calling upon the Afghan Taliban government to “comply with these obligations”.

Andrabi, however, maintained that Pakistan would take “all necessary measures in the exercise of the right to self-defence against terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan”.

He reiterated Pakistan’s demand for action against “terrorist outfits operating with impunity and with freedom from Afghan soil.”

In response to another question, the FO spokesperson also said that he was not aware of “any structured dialogue” going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan right now.

Asked if Qatar was playing any diplomatic role between the two countries, given the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Doha, the FO spokesperson said: “On the role of Qatar, the issue may have come up in a broader context”.

Referring to PM Shehbaz’s recent meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, he said that the two leaders exchanged views on regional and national developments, emphasising the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful resolution of disputes.

“To that extent, of course, we would welcome Qatar’s role in settling all these issues, including Afghanistan,” he said.

The spokesperson said that on the military front Pakistan’s response to Afghanistan will be swift and strong in exercise of its right to self-defense. “This message has been put across through all international stakeholders,” he maintained.

Andrabi said that threatening statements from Afghanistan are quite discouraging and disappointing. Pakistan has taken action against terrorist outfits based on verifiable intelligence. Precision strikes were carried out in response to the terrorist attacks, the most recent one in Bajaur and Bannu.

He said that the safety and security of Pakistani nationals has been an issue of priority in exchange with Afghanistan. We expect foolproof, complete security to our diplomats stationed in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Pakistan takes the safety and security of Afghan diplomats in Pakistan very seriously. We expect the same seriousness from Afghan authorities in providing complete security to our diplomats, officials, and Pakistani nationals who are present in Afghanistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026