297 terrorists killed, 89 Afghan Taliban posts destroyed in ongoing strikes under ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’: Govt

Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi provided an update on the ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ on Friday night and said at least 297 Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members and terrorists were killed so far as Pakistani forces continued their robust response to the unprovoked aggression by the neighbouring country’s forces.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistani forces targeted key military installations of the Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia through effective airstrikes. The military spokesperson said the ongoing operation was producing the desired results, with insurgents effectively repulsed at 53 locations along the border, inflicting heavy losses while exercising restraint to avoid civilian harm.

In a post on X late on Friday night, Zaidi provided the latest figures as of 11:10pm, saying Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorism emanating from Afghanistan continued throughout the day.

“A total of 297 Afghan Taliban, TTP, and other terrorists are confirmed killed, and more than 450 are reported injured,” he said, adding that 89 Afghan Taliban posts were destroyed and 18 captured.

Zaidi further said 135 Afghan Taliban regime tanks and armed personnel carriers had been destroyed, while 29 locations across Afghanistan were subjected to aerial strikes.

“Pakistan’s immediate and effective response to aggression continues,” the PM’s spokesperson added.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also provided the same update.

Speaking in an interview on programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on a private television channel, he said the operation in Afghanistan was ongoing, stressing that threats needed to be neutralised.

“Pakistan has shown great patience and restraint. Attacks continued against Pakistan, terrorist incidents kept occurring, in which Afghanistan’s role was entirely clear, and evidence exists,” he said.

The minister said that when Pakistan was attacked under the cover of night, it was the country’s duty to respond. “Pakistan has carried out a measured and comprehensive counter-operation, which is still ongoing,” he said, noting that strikes were carried out against military and terrorist targets while ensuring Kabul’s Green Zone was not affected and no civilians were targeted.

“From brigade headquarters to core headquarters and ammunition depots, their military installations were completely destroyed,” he said, adding that the situation remained ongoing and future developments would be closely monitored.

Read: ‘Clear as daylight’: Tarar says Afghanistan’s unprovoked attacks expose Taliban-terrorist nexus

Tarar said Afghan forces attempted attacks and skirmishes in Khyber and northern areas such as Chitral, but failed due to lack of conventional warfare capability. “After Pakistan’s successful operation, a change in tone from Afghanistan is now evident,” he added.

“It cannot happen that terrorists repeatedly carry out attacks in Pakistan, receive facilitation and shelter, get training, operate inside Pakistan, and then attack Pakistan’s borders; this cannot be allowed,” he said.

Referring to drone attacks from Afghanistan that were successfully neutralised, Tarar said the timing and synchronisation of these incidents indicated a clear link between terrorists and the Afghan Taliban regime.

“This is not an internal issue of Pakistan; it is an internal issue of Afghanistan. Media reports indicate that their Ministry of Defence has even fired at each other. In Pakistan, there is unity. Today, the K-P chief minister also issued a statement in support of the country’s defence and armed forces, which we welcome,” he added.

He said the nexus with terrorists and cross-border terrorism was an international issue and emphasised that it was Afghanistan’s problem, which Pakistan was neutralising successfully while achieving significant results.

The information minister was apparently referring to a statement on X by K-P CM Sohail Afridi, who said: “If any country engages in provocation or aggression against Pakistan, we will go to any extent to defend Pakistan without any fear or hesitation.

“This is not just the responsibility of the K-P government but every Pakistani considers it their national duty. Despite criticisms of internal disagreements and flawed policies, we will stand with our country and security forces in the face of external conspiracies or aggression.”

He added that for establishing peace in Afghanistan and the tribal areas, it had become “imperative” to move forward by taking along three parties, as per what former premier Imran Khan told him.

“First, the people of Pakistan’s tribal areas; second, the Afghan government; and third, the people of Afghanistan — without the support of these three parties, no successful operation or lasting solution is possible.” 

CM Afridi said that in light of Imran’s directives, he had advised federal representatives to form a National Jirga that included representatives from the provincial and federal governments, tribal elders and elders from all political and religious parties.

“This is the only path through which the issues can be resolved in the best possible manner. War should always be the last option. War increases problems; it does not reduce them.”