Security forces foil attack on KP border post, 37 militants killed: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that security forces thwarted an attempted assault on a border post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Ghulam Khan Sector, killing 37 attackers and injuring more than 80 others.

According to Tarar, the attempted attack took place on the night between April 2 and April 3 during the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. He said the assault was carried out by the Afghan Taliban and terrorists, and that the attack on the border post was comprehensively repelled.

In a post on X, Tarar said, ‘As part of these [Ghazab Lil Haq] operations on the night of April 2/3, an attempt to physically attack a border post in Ghulam Khan Sector by Afghan Taliban/ Fitna al Khawarij was comprehensively foiled, in which they suffered heavy casualties, including up to 37 sent to hell and 80+ injured’

The term Fitna al Khawarij is used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Operation timeline

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on the night of February 26 after cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban. The operation was temporarily paused on March 18 at the request of what were described as brotherly Islamic countries. Pakistan later announced on March 26 that the operation had resumed and would continue until its objectives were achieved.

Updated figures shared by minister

Tarar also provided an updated account of the operation’s overall impact. He said that as of 5pm on April 5, 796 terrorists and Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed, while more than 1,043 had been injured.

He further said that 286 of their posts had been destroyed and 44 posts had been captured. In addition, 249 tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery guns and drones had been destroyed, according to the minister.

Tarar added that 81 terrorists and locations linked to terrorist support infrastructure across Afghanistan had been effectively targeted by air.

The minister’s statement came as Pakistan continues Operation Ghazab lil-Haq following its resumption late last month. The latest incident in the Ghulam Khan Sector was presented by Tarar as part of the broader military campaign that began after the February 26 cross-border firing incident and was restarted on March 26 after a brief pause.