297 terrorists killed, 89 Afghan Taliban positions destroyed in ongoing attack during ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’: Govt

Prime Minister’s Spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi gave an update on the ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ on Friday evening, saying at least 297 Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members and terrorists were killed as Pakistani forces continued their robust response to the unprovoked attack by the neighboring 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 spokesman said the ongoing operation yielded the desired results, with insurgents effectively repulsed at 53 locations along the border, inflicting heavy casualties while exercising restraint to avoid civilian casualties.

In a post on X late Friday night, Zaidi disclosed the latest figures from 23:10 and said that Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorism originating from Afghanistan continued throughout the day.

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

Zaidi further said that 135 Afghan Taliban regime tanks and armored personnel carriers had been destroyed, while 29 locations in Afghanistan were hit by airstrikes.

“Pakistan’s immediate and effective response to aggression continues,” the prime minister’s spokesman added.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also provided the same update.

In an interview in the program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on a private TV channel, he said that the operation in Afghanistan was on and stressed that the threats should be neutralized.

“Pakistan has shown great patience and restraint. Attacks continued against Pakistan, terrorist incidents continued to occur where Afghanistan’s role was quite 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 that Kabul’s Green Zone was not affected and that no civilians were targeted.

“From brigade headquarters to nuclear 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 link

Tarar said Afghan forces attempted attacks and skirmishes in Khyber and northern areas like Chitral but failed due to lack of conventional warfare. “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, receive training, operate inside Pakistan and then attack Pakistan’s borders; this cannot be allowed,” he said.

Referring to drone strikes from Afghanistan which were successfully neutralized, Tarar said the timing and synchronization of these incidents indicate 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 defense ministries have even fired at each other. In Pakistan, there is unity. Today, the KP Chief Minister also issued a statement in support of the country’s defense and armed forces, which we welcome,” he added.

He said that the nexus of terrorists and cross-border terrorism was an international issue and emphasized that it was Afghanistan’s problem that Pakistan successfully neutralized while achieving significant results.

The information minister was apparently referring to a statement on X by KP 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 fear or hesitation.

“This is not only the responsibility of the KP government, but every Pakistani considers it their national duty. Despite criticism of internal dissensions and flawed policies, we will stand with our country and security forces in the face of external conspiracies or aggression.”

He added that to establish peace in Afghanistan and the tribal areas, it had become “imperative” to move forward by bringing three parties, according to what former prime minister 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 view of Imran’s directives, he had advised federal representatives to form a national Jirga that included representatives from provincial and federal governments, tribal elders and elders from all political and religious parties.

“This is the only way through which the problems can be solved in the best possible way. War should always be the last resort. War increases the problems; it does not reduce them.”