Pakistan’s military on Friday said that 274 Afghan Taliban regime personnel and khawarij were killed and more than 400 were injured during Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, launched in response to cross-border attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure and khawarij hideouts in border regions to ensure Pakistan’s national security.

He said the operation was conducted on the night between February 21 and 22 after coordinated firing incidents were carried out across 15 sectors along the Pak-Afghan border from 53 different locations.

Pakistani forces delivered an immediate and effective response at all identified points, he added.

Militant posts destroyed, positions captured

According to the military spokesperson, 73 Afghan Taliban posts along the border were destroyed, while 18 posts were captured by Pakistani forces during the operation.

The strikes targeted multiple areas, including Kabul, Paktia, Kandahar and Paktika, where military installations, command centres, brigade headquarters and logistics bases linked to khawarij elements were engaged through precision air operations.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said all targets were military in nature and special care was taken to ensure the safety of the Afghan civilian populations.

Equipment, hideouts neutralised

The ISPR chief said 115 tanks, armoured vehicles and other military equipment were destroyed, while terrorist hideouts and arms depots used by khawarij suffered significant damage.

He added that attempted quadcopter attacks launched from certain locations were successfully intercepted and neutralised by Pakistani forces.

Pakistani casualties and resolve

During the operation, 12 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom, 27 were injured, and one personnel remains missing, the spokesperson said, adding that the nation takes pride in the sacrifices rendered by its armed forces.

He reiterated that Pakistan’s armed forces remain fully prepared to defend the country’s borders and sovereignty at all costs.

Afghan soil must not host terrorists

The military spokesperson stressed that Afghan territory must not be allowed to be used for terrorism against Pakistan, noting that Islamabad has repeatedly called for effective action against khawarij operating from across the border.

He said Pakistan’s response was aimed solely at protecting its citizens and ensuring border security, warning that terrorists and their facilitators would not be allowed safe havens.

Lt Gen Chaudhry added that counter-terrorism operations would continue under Pakistan’s national security policy, highlighting national political consensus on eliminating terrorism and safeguarding the country’s security.