Islamabad: Pakistan’s military response to cross-border firing has intensified, with officials confirming significant losses on the Afghan side. According to the prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, at least 72 Afghan Taliban combatants were killed and over 120 wounded during counterstrikes carried out under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.
Earlier reports from state media indicated that 58 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 100 injured. However, updated figures suggest the toll increased as operations continued across multiple sectors.
Officials stated that 16 Afghan posts were destroyed and seven were captured during the clashes. Additionally, an ammunition depot, a battalion headquarters and a sector headquarters inside Afghan territory were reportedly targeted and destroyed. Dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles were also said to have been neutralised.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the conflict began after Afghan forces allegedly opened fire on several Pakistani border locations in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur on Thursday evening. Pakistani security forces responded immediately, triggering heavy exchanges across various frontier sectors.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that two Pakistani security personnel were martyred and three others injured in the clashes. He also accused hostile elements and social media networks of spreading misinformation regarding the situation.
Reports suggest that the Pakistan Air Force carried out targeted strikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, destroying a major ammunition storage facility. Intense shelling was reported in Bajaur, Mohmand and Chitral. In Bajaur, a mosque sustained roof damage due to shelling, though no immediate casualties were reported.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan’s armed forces were delivering a “strong and proportionate response” to what he described as cross-border aggression. Government officials reiterated that Pakistan would not compromise on its sovereignty and would take decisive action against any threats to national security.
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq marks one of the most significant recent escalations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, underscoring heightened tensions and the government’s firm stance on territorial defence.
