Terror-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have decreased by 65% since the initiation of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting terrorists and their support networks in neighboring Afghanistan. A report by KP police revealed that 240 terror incidents occurred in the province before the operation started, while only 80 incidents have been recorded since its commencement. Overall, 323 terror incidents have been documented in KP this year.
The security forces launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq last month in response to unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban regime along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. By March 15, officials confirmed that 684 Afghan Taliban militants had been killed, with over 912 others wounded during the operation.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar stated that the operation resulted in the destruction of 229 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery guns. Additionally, 252 militant posts were demolished, and 44 others were captured and subsequently destroyed. The operation targeted both the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij groups.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry highlighted that striking terrorists and their hideouts in Afghanistan played a crucial role in reducing attacks within Pakistan. He emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism at all costs and noted that key masterminds behind major attacks had been neutralized. Chaudhry also mentioned that Pakistan shared intelligence about terrorist sanctuaries with the Afghan Taliban regime.
Separately, KP Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah remarked that the operation had positively impacted law and order in the province. He affirmed that federal and provincial agencies were collaborating closely to eliminate terrorism, with all stakeholders united in this effort.
Following the Afghan Taliban’s takeover in 2021, terror attacks surged sharply in KP and Balochistan. Pakistan has consistently urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan. However, the Afghan Taliban have refused to act against these groups responsible for numerous assaults on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched months after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025, which followed clashes triggered by unprovoked gunfire from Afghan Taliban forces at multiple border points. Islamabad accused Afghan forces of facilitating terrorist crossings into Pakistan. After several days of border fighting, Pakistan agreed to an initial ceasefire at Kabul’s request. Subsequently, a ceasefire deal was brokered in Qatar, mediated by Doha and Turkiye, mandating an immediate halt to terrorism originating from Afghanistan targeting Pakistan.
Further follow-up talks between the two sides in Turkiye, however, failed to produce the desired outcomes, leaving challenges in fully implementing the ceasefire agreement.
