ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday disclosed key achievements of Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, launched in response to what officials described as unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban regime along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar confirmed that security forces killed 133 Taliban fighters and injured more than 200 during the operation.
Authorities initiated the operation after cross-border hostilities escalated. Subsequently, Pakistan’s armed forces carried out coordinated strikes targeting multiple Taliban positions. Security sources stated that the forces destroyed several key posts, forcing Afghan Taliban fighters to raise white flags at various locations.
Heavy Losses and Strategic Gains Reported
According to security officials, Pakistani forces used artillery and quadcopters to weaken Taliban defenses significantly. In particular, troops severely hit Afghan posts in the Angoor Adda sector and destroyed the Afghan Charlie Post and Afghan Babri Post.
Furthermore, officials said Pakistani troops captured five Afghan posts in Afghanistan’s Paktia region and hoisted the national flag at the seized locations. The captured positions include two posts opposite Shawal, two opposite Angoor Adda, and one opposite Zarmalan. In addition, forces destroyed the Afghan terminal at Angoor Adda during the engagement.
Air Strikes Target Key Installations
Tarar stated that the military executed a coordinated and effective response following the escalation. He confirmed that forces destroyed 27 Afghan posts and captured nine. Moreover, Pakistani troops destroyed over 80 tanks, artillery guns, and armoured personnel carriers.
The Pakistan Air Force also conducted strikes in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia, targeting Taliban military infrastructure. Officials said the strikes destroyed two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, along with artillery units and armoured vehicles.
How border clashes triggered?
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the Senate that the Pakistan Air Force killed more than 100 terrorists in retributive air strikes inside Afghanistan. He said the government launched the intelligence-based operation after a wave of suicide bombings and cross-border attacks.
Government details intelligence-based action
While briefing the Upper House, Chaudhry stated that the PAF conducted the air strikes on February 21 in three Afghan provinces. He said authorities selected the targets based strictly on verified intelligence about Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens and training centres. Moreover, he stressed that forces avoided civilian areas and did not target non-combatants.
In addition, the minister said Pakistan shared solid evidence with the Afghan Taliban government regarding terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil. He added that Islamabad provided details of camps and hideouts but received no written guarantees to prevent further infiltration.
Decisive response after deadly attacks
Chaudhry linked the operation to recent attacks, including the suicide bombing at an imambargah in Tarlai that killed around 36 people, as well as incidents in Bajaur and Bannu where security personnel embraced martyrdom. Therefore, he said, the government decided to respond decisively.
