72 Taliban operatives killed in Op ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’; Multiple Afghan posts, arms depot destroyed
A videograb from Express News shows the aftermath of an airstrike on an Afghan arms depot in Nangarhar province.
ISLAMABAD:
At least 72 operatives of the Afghan Taliban regime were killed while several others were wounded as Pakistan launched ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’, delivering a “robust and effective response” to unprovoked firing from across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Thursday night.
As the border clashes continued in several districts of former federally-administered tribal areas, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) struck and destroyed a large ammunition depot in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar. “Further strikes are under way,” a security source said.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that two Pakistani soldiers also embraced martyrdom in the clashes, while three others were wounded. According to the state-run Pakistan Television, the Afghan Taliban forces opened unprovoked fire at various locations, triggering a full-force counter-operation.
“Pakistan’s security forces are giving a befitting reply to the unprovoked Afghan aggression,” a Pakistan TV Digital report said on its website. Quoting its sources, the report added that Taliban hideouts were destroyed during the counter-attack, forcing Khawarij elements to flee.
“Forces precisely targeted and destroyed an Afghan Taliban check post in the Chitral sector, while additional operations were carried out in the Nawagai sector of Bajaur, Tirah in Khyber district, Mohmand district and the Arandu sector,” Pakistan TV Digital said.
“Visual material circulated by Afghan security-linked accounts showed armoured vehicles moving through rugged, mountainous terrain at night, with flashes of gunfire visible,” it said, adding that it could not independently verify the location, timing or authenticity of the footage.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the security forces successfully repelled cross-border attacks by destroying several hostile posts and inflicting heavy casualties on Afghan forces and terrorists linked to the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to officials, the response was carried out in multiple sectors, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur districts. Initial reports suggested that around 72 Afghan Taliban were killed, though authorities said official confirmation of casualty figures was still pending.
According to security sources, Pakistani forces launched strong retaliatory action in the Gursal sector of Mohmand district, where several Afghan Taliban checkpoints were destroyed. The operation also targeted terrorist positions in the sector.
In the Bajaur sector, artillery fire was used to strike enemy defensive lines, resulting in the destruction of multiple posts. Security officials said that the enemy’s sector headquarters was also demolished during the counter-operation.
Forces also destroyed enemy checkpoints in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district and in Chitral district with precision strikes. Sources stated that Afghan forces attempted to attack Pakistani border posts using quadcopters, but all hostile drones were intercepted and shot down.
The operation involved the use of small arms, heavy weaponry and drone countermeasures to neutralise threats originating from Afghan positions. Preliminary intelligence indicated heavy losses of manpower and military equipment on the Afghan side.
The Information Ministry stated that Pakistan will take all possible measures to protect its territorial integrity, sovereignty and citizens. Officials said that border conditions are being closely monitored and reiterated that Pakistan will use its defence capabilities if required.
“We will never allow the Afghan Taliban regime to hide behind lies,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a post on X. “After the Taliban’s defeat and exposure in the field of action, the Afghan Tal-iban regime is resorting to lies and propaganda.”
(WITH INPUTS FROM NEWS DESK)
