Pakistan carried out precise and calibrated strikes along its border with Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 militants, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Wednesday. These operations targeted hideouts and safe havens of planners responsible for recent terrorist attacks within Pakistan.
The strikes followed a series of violent incidents, including a terrorist attack on a Federal Constabulary post in Musa Dara on June 9, 2026, vehicle-borne suicide assaults on a military post in North Waziristan on June 2, 2026, and an assault on a police station in Bannu on May 9, 2026. Notably, the operations came just a day after six Federal Constabulary personnel were killed and several others wounded during a terrorist attack on a security post in Hassan Khel, a remote area near Peshawar, the provincial capital.
Officials reported that the militants launched their assault at midnight, sparking intense gunfire. Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed confirmed the loss of six paramilitary soldiers in the attack at Hassan Khel.
Minister Tarar specified that the strikes targeted hideouts linked to the group known as “Fitna al Khwarij,” a term used for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). the statement, the militants killed were Indian-sponsored terrorists. The operations were guided by credible intelligence, enabling selective and accurate targeting of camps and hideouts.
Four key targets were completely destroyed during the strikes: a training center, a hideout, an ammunition cache, and several “marakiz” associated with Fitna al Khwarij commanders Aleem Khan Khushali and Akhtar Muhammad Jani Khel. The minister emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, while reaffirming that protecting citizens remains the highest priority.
He further highlighted that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign, conducted under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” and approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will persist vigorously to eradicate foreign-supported terrorism from the country.
Since 2021, Pakistan has experienced a rise in terrorist activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, following the Afghan Taliban’s takeover. In response, Pakistan launched “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” which resulted in the deaths of numerous Afghan Taliban operatives and allied militants, with many more injured.
In October 2025, clashes erupted along the border after unprovoked attacks by the Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants on Pakistani posts. Despite multiple rounds of dialogue, no agreement has been reached, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s unwillingness to act against terrorist groups.
