The security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border escalated sharply overnight as the Pakistan Air Force launched a series of precision strikes against critical Taliban targets. These operations focused on a significant ammunition depot located in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, a strategic area long used by militant groups to stockpile weapons and supplies. The air strikes marked a decisive response to recent unprovoked attacks by Taliban forces on Pakistani border posts.
In the aftermath of these retaliatory actions, Pakistani officials confirmed that at least 133 militants affiliated with the Afghan Taliban were killed, while more than 200 others sustained injuries. This heavy toll reflects the intensity of the ongoing clashes, which erupted following aggressive cross-border assaults on Pakistani positions. The Pakistani military swiftly launched Operation Ghazab-lil-Haqq to counter these incursions and restore security along the volatile frontier.
By 2 a.m., the Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, provided an update on the situation, revealing that Pakistani forces had conducted multiple counter-attacks targeting Taliban frontline positions. Zaidi highlighted that 72 militants were killed and over 120 wounded during these operations, with a number of key Taliban installations neutralized. Among the destroyed targets were 16 Taliban posts, including a large ammunition depot, a battalion headquarters, and a sector headquarters, significantly degrading the enemy’s command and control capabilities.
Moreover, the Pakistani military succeeded in destroying more than 36 tanks, artillery pieces, and armored personnel carriers, delivering a severe blow to the Taliban’s operational strength. Zaidi emphasized Pakistan’s firm stance, warning that further counter-strikes would follow any future aggression, underscoring the country’s readiness to respond swiftly and effectively to threats against its sovereignty.
In a social media statement, Zaidi dismissed claims of Pakistani casualties or territorial losses as baseless, attributing such misinformation to Indian proxies operating within Afghanistan. He reassured the public that no Pakistani posts had been compromised, no soldiers captured, and no fatalities recorded on the Pakistani side. This assertion aimed to counter Taliban propaganda and maintain morale among security forces and citizens alike.
Additional security sources revealed that Pakistani forces had completely destroyed 12 Afghan border posts and seized control of five others, raising the Pakistani flag over these newly captured positions. Beyond Nangarhar, the military targeted Taliban logistics and ammunition depots in Kandahar province, further crippling the militants’ supply chains. A core Taliban headquarters in Paktia province was also reported destroyed, marking a significant strategic gain for Pakistan.
The operation inflicted substantial damage on three Afghan battalions and a sector headquarters, with over 30 tanks, artillery guns, and armored vehicles eliminated. Pakistani forces also dismantled the Dawood post, a key Taliban position along the border. In the Kurram district, several Taliban outposts near the Kharlachi terminal—a crucial crossing point—were struck, while Taliban fighters near the Mohmand sector abandoned their positions under intense pressure.
Officials confirmed that Taliban military infrastructure in Kabul, including two brigade headquarters, was also targeted and destroyed during the latest phase of operations. This comprehensive campaign reflects Pakistan’s determination to dismantle militant networks and prevent cross-border attacks.
Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar condemned the Taliban’s initiation of hostilities and accused them of spreading false narratives on social media to mask their setbacks. He highlighted the role of Afghan Taliban-linked and Indian social media accounts in disseminating misleading information aimed at confusing the public and international observers. Tarar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and vowed to counter any propaganda with facts.
Tarar, Pakistan’s armed forces demonstrated professionalism and resolve throughout the clashes, inflicting significant casualties on the Taliban while suffering minimal losses. He reported that 36 militants were killed and several others injured, while two Pakistani soldiers were martyred and three wounded. The minister also described the operation as a successful campaign against “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, whose camps were targeted in recent airstrikes along the border.
Security sources added that Taliban attempts to use quadcopters for attacks on Pakistani check posts were thwarted, with all drones being shot down promptly. Pakistani forces employed both light and heavy weaponry, including drone strikes, to target Taliban positions effectively. Meanwhile, the Taliban regime continued to circulate false claims and fabricated videos on social media, which Pakistani authorities dismissed as propaganda.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a statement condemning the Taliban’s unprovoked attacks and reaffirming Pakistan’s immediate and effective response. The ministry highlighted that Taliban forces had miscalculated by opening fire on multiple locations across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border sectors, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur. Early reports indicated heavy Taliban casualties and the destruction of numerous posts and military equipment.
This escalation follows recent intelligence-based airstrikes that eliminated over 100 militants in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces, targeting camps linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. These operations were launched in retaliation for suicide attacks within Pakistan, signaling a robust and coordinated effort to dismantle militant infrastructure along the border.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and territorial integrity. He emphasized that no entity would be allowed to disrupt peace within Pakistan’s borders, underscoring the government’s resolve to respond decisively to any hostile actions. As tensions remain high, Pakistan continues to maintain vigilant surveillance and readiness to counter any threats emerging from across the border.
