More than 270 Taliban regime personnel and affiliated militants have been killed in Pakistan retaliatory response following unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the military spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
Addressing a detailed ISPR chief press conference, Director General ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the clashes began after Afghan Taliban fighters opened fire across multiple sectors along the border. He stated that Pakistan launched precise strikes on terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan on the night of February 21 and 22.
According to the military briefing, firing occurred in 15 sectors at 53 different locations. All attacks were effectively repelled. The heaviest exchange of fire took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur.
The Pakistan retaliatory response included ground and air operations. Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan targeted key positions in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia. Security forces destroyed more than 74 Taliban posts and took control of 18 checkposts during the action.
Providing a Taliban casualties update, the ISPR chief said 274 Taliban regime personnel killed during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, while over 400 others were injured. He added that 115 enemy tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed. In addition, 22 hideouts linked to Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij were targeted.
The Pakistan retaliatory response forced militants to flee, leaving behind the bodies of their associates. However, 12 Pakistani security personnel embraced martyrdom and 27 others were injured during the fighting.
The ISPR chief emphasized that the Pakistan retaliatory response was carried out under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and aimed solely at defending national sovereignty. He stressed that the armed forces acted professionally and targeted only military objectives.
During the exchange of fire, attempted drone attacks in Abbottabad and Nowshera were foiled. The military spokesperson accused the Afghan Taliban regime of sheltering terrorist elements and warned that any future act of terrorism inside Pakistan would trigger a decisive response against both attackers and their facilitators.
He stated that Afghanistan must choose between supporting militant groups and maintaining stable ties with Pakistan. The armed forces, he added, remain fully prepared on both eastern and western borders to safeguard the country’s interests.
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq continues as Pakistan retaliatory response remains underway, with military officials vowing to pursue the mission until all objectives are achieved.
