Pakistan’s military has announced a significant blow to the Afghan Taliban forces following a large-scale counteroffensive along the volatile Pak-Afghan border. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, revealed that more than 270 Taliban militants were killed during the retaliatory operation named “Ghazab-lil-Haq.” This operation was launched in response to a series of unprovoked attacks originating from across the border, which had sharply escalated tensions between the two sides.
During a comprehensive media briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry detailed the extensive scale of the operation, emphasizing that Pakistani forces had inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghan Taliban regime’s personnel. The military confirmed that at least 274 fighters were killed and over 400 others sustained injuries. In addition to the human toll, the operation resulted in the destruction of 74 Taliban posts and the elimination of 115 tanks and armored vehicles, significantly degrading the militant group’s operational capabilities along the frontier.
The ISPR chief explained that the Pakistani military targeted several hideouts of what he described as “Fitna al-Khawarij”—a term used to refer to extremist factions—during the night of February 21 and 22. He noted that the Afghan Taliban regime later attempted to justify their own retaliatory actions by citing these strikes as a provocation. However, Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that the Pakistani troops successfully repelled hostile fire from Taliban forces, who had launched attacks at 53 different locations spanning 15 sectors along the border.
Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq saw Pakistani forces not only destroy numerous Taliban posts but also seize control of 18 check posts, further consolidating their hold over key border areas. The military highlighted that the operation’s impact was evident on a global scale, with Pakistani troops engaging the enemy across every contested sector. Additional security sources confirmed that several Taliban military headquarters, artillery units, and check posts were targeted and destroyed during the broader exchange of fire.
Despite the successful operation, Pakistani authorities mourned the loss of 12 personnel who were martyred in the clashes, underscoring the high cost of maintaining border security. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Air Force played a crucial role by conducting overnight air strikes on Taliban installations in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and Nangarhar provinces. These air raids reportedly destroyed two brigade headquarters in Kabul, a corps headquarters in Kandahar, and several other strategic facilities including an ammunition depot and logistics base.
Taliban officials acknowledged the explosions in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar, confirming that a military center in Kabul was struck around 1:50 a.m., though they denied any casualties resulting from the attacks. On the ground, Pakistani forces also captured five Afghan posts in Paktia province, directly opposite South Waziristan. These included positions near Shawal, Angoor Adda, and Zarmalan, with the Afghan terminal at Angoor Adda reportedly destroyed during the operation.
Heavy exchanges of fire were reported in multiple sectors including Bajaur, Tirah, Chitral, Mohmand, Wali Khan, and Kurram. Security sources indicated that several Afghan check posts were demolished and additional Taliban fighters were killed during these confrontations. Pakistani officials also claimed to have shot down quadcopters that were allegedly used by Taliban forces to target Pakistani positions.
In the Bajaur district’s Laghrai area, mortar shelling caused injuries to five civilians, including three women. The wounded were promptly transported to Khar Hospital for medical treatment, while a local mosque sustained damage from the shelling. These incidents highlight the ongoing humanitarian impact of the conflict on border communities caught in the crossfire.
Overall, Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq represents a decisive and forceful response by Pakistan’s military to cross-border aggression, aiming to restore stability and security along the sensitive frontier. The operation underscores the persistent volatility in the region and the challenges faced by both nations in managing their shared border amid complex geopolitical dynamics.
