4 civilians martyred in Afghan mortar attack as Pakistan continues Operation Ghazab lil-Haq

• Four civilians killed in cross-border mortar attack in Bajaur Sunday afternoon, says Atta Tarar

• Says four brothers martyred, five-year-old child critically injured in ‘deliberate targeting the civilian population’

• Pakistan launches overnight strikes on ‘terrorist hideouts and military infrastructure’ in Kandahar

• Tarar says 684 Afghan Taliban and allied militants killed, 252 militant posts destroyed and dozens captured in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq so far

 BAJUR/ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday condemned the Afghan Taliban regime for “deliberately targeting the civilian population with artillery and mortar fire from across the border in Tabesta Letai, Salarzai area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district” at around 3:30pm, resulting in the martyrdom of four innocent civilians.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s security forces carried out overnight strikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, targeting “terrorist hideouts and military infrastructure,” as part of ongoing military action against the Afghan Taliban, state-run Pakistan Television reported, citing security sources.

Pakistani forces launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in late February following what officials described as unprovoked cross-border actions by the Afghan Taliban at multiple points along the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the Afghan Taliban government carried out a cross-border mortar attack on civilian areas in Bajaur on Sunday afternoon, resulting in casualties and damage to property.

✅ 15 March 2026

Attack on innocent civilians by Afghan Taliban Regime in Bajaur

▪️ Today on 15th of March 2026 around 1530 hours, Afghan Taliban regime deliberately targeted civilian population through artillery / mortar fire from across the border in Tabesta Letai, Salarzai… pic.twitter.com/M8PdBra2eN

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 15, 2026

According to the minister, the attack deliberately targeted residential areas, damaging homes and killing four brothers — Sajid, Ayaz, Riaz, and Moaz — while a five-year-old child was critically injured.

“Four innocent civilians have embraced shahadat while a five-year-old child is seriously injured after a house was struck in this attack,” he said.

Separately, district police spokesperson Israr Khan confirmed that residents from nearby villages rushed to the scene shortly after the incident and recovered the deceased and the injured from the debris.

He said a police team from Salarzai police station, led by the station house officer, visited the area, inspected the damaged house and collected evidence.

#Breaking

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has said that the Afghan Taliban regime deliberately targeted the civilian population in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack struck a residential house, resulting in the martyrdom of four… pic.twitter.com/DSLTt5bbIu

— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) March 15, 2026

In a post, Tarar described the assault as a “cowardly and heinous deliberate targeting of civilians”, allegedly carried out by the Afghan Taliban regime “in cohorts with the terrorist organisation Fitna al-Khawarij.”

He said the attack was a grave violation of international law and basic human values, reflecting frustration and desperation amid what he termed heavy setbacks faced by militant groups due to Pakistan’s ongoing military operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

Local residents strongly condemned the incident, expressing outrage against the Afghan Taliban government.

Tarar said Pakistan’s armed forces were actively responding and targeting Taliban positions and infrastructure through precise and forceful operations after militants suffered significant setbacks on multiple fronts during the operation.

The minister emphasised that Pakistan would continue to take appropriate and decisive measures to protect its citizens and respond strongly to such attacks.

 

684 Afghan Taliban combatants killed

Earlier, the information minister said that 684 combatants of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khawarij had been killed during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

Providing a summary of losses at 1600 hours, Tarar said 252 posts had been destroyed, while 44 others were captured during the operation.

✅Operation Ghazb-lil-Haq
✅Update 1600 hours 15 March

✅Summary of Fitna Al Khawarij / Afghan Taliban losses

▪️684 Killed,
▪️912+ Injured
▪️252 Posts destroyed
▪️44 Posts captured and destroyed
▪️229 tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery guns destroyed
▪️73 terrorists and… pic.twitter.com/Q2D3KNJpfi

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 15, 2026

He added that over 912 Afghan operatives were injured during the military campaign.

According to the minister, around 229 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns had also been destroyed.

He further said that about 70 terrorist and support locations across Afghanistan had been effectively targeted through aerial strikes.

 

Operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq continue

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military carried out overnight strikes “targeting facilities used by the Afghan Taliban and affiliated groups” to support attacks against Pakistani civilians, according to Pakistan Television.

Pakistan's Armed Forces continue their effective operations against #AfghanTaliban and Fitna al-Khwarij under #OperationGhazabLilHaq@OfficialDGISPR #RadioPakistan #news https://t.co/0ueK8IRjlU pic.twitter.com/1X7rWd1HyU

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) March 15, 2026

Security sources said Pakistan’s armed forces successfully struck military installations and terrorist hideouts belonging to the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The state broadcaster reported that the armed forces destroyed technical support infrastructure and an equipment storage facility in Kandahar, which was allegedly being used to facilitate cross-border militant activities.

In another strike, the military targeted a tunnel in Kandahar housing technical equipment used by Afghan Taliban elements and allied militants.

“Operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq will continue until the attainment of objectives,” Pakistan Television quoted a security source as saying.

In a post on X later on Sunday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the overnight strikes in Kandahar and shared footage of the operation.

“On the night of March 14/15, Pakistan Armed Forces targeted military installations, including terrorist hideouts of Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij,” he said.

“In these attacks, Pakistan’s forces also destroyed technical support infrastructure and an equipment storage facility in Kandahar that was being used by Afghan Taliban and terrorists against innocent Pakistani civilians,” he added.

Tarar said the footage demonstrated precision engagement by Pakistani forces against militant installations.

“No civilian population or infrastructure was targeted, contrary to the false claims propagated by Afghan regime officials and media,” he asserted.