663 Afghan Taliban fighters killed in 'Operation Ghazab Lil Haq', says Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that 663 Afghan Taliban operatives have been killed and more than 887 injured during the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched in response to what he termed “unprovoked action” from across the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

The operation was initiated nearly two weeks ago following renewed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly opened fire on multiple locations along the frontier, prompting a swift military response by Pakistani forces.

Tensions between the two neighbours escalated after Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes carried out in February. Islamabad maintained that the strikes targeted terrorist hideouts and accused Kabul of failing to act against militant groups operating from its territory—an allegation rejected by the Taliban administration.

Providing details of the operation on his X account, Tarar said Pakistani security forces had destroyed 249 check posts and captured another 44 during the campaign.

He added that 224 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns belonging to Afghan Taliban forces had also been destroyed.

According to the minister, around 70 locations across Afghanistan were targeted in air strikes, focusing on militant infrastructure and operational bases.

“In Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar, terrorists and their support infrastructure, including logistics bases and camps, were targeted,” he said.

Tarar also released a video which he said demonstrated that Pakistani forces conducted “precise strikes” only against installations linked to terrorism.

“No civilian population or civilian infrastructure was targeted, contrary to claims made by officials and media of the Afghan regime,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Pakistan reiterated its demand for verifiable assurances from Kabul that Afghan territory would not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

During his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad had yet to receive such guarantees.

“Since these assurances have not been provided, Pakistan will continue to follow its existing policy,” he said, adding that the country reserved the right to respond in self-defence against cross-border attacks.

The latest violence marks one of the most serious escalations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier in recent months, with clashes affecting several Afghan provinces and land border crossings between the two countries largely remaining closed.