Pakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan

• Pakistan says safety and security of its citizens remains top priority.
• Attacks carried out by Khwarij handlers, says information ministry.
• Afghanistan urged to stop use of its territory by terrorist groups.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes targeting seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), its affiliates and the Daesh Khorasan Province (DKP) along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to recent suicide attacks, the government said early Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Information, the operation was conducted “with precision and accuracy” as a retributive response to suicide bombing incidents in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu during the holy month of Ramzan.

“The suicide attacks were carried out by Khwarij on the direction of Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers,” the ministry said, adding that responsibility for the attacks was also claimed by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban linked to FAK and Daesh.

The ministry said despite repeated requests urging the Afghan Taliban authorities to take verifiable measures to stop the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups and foreign proxies, “no substantive action was taken.”

It said Pakistan has always worked for peace and stability in the region, but “the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority.”

Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of its territory by terrorist groups against Pakistan, the statement said.

The ministry also called on the international community to play a constructive role by encouraging Afghan authorities to honour their commitments under the Doha Agreement to prevent the use of Afghan soil against other countries, saying such steps are vital for regional and global peace and security.

Earlier, Afghan media reported, citing sources, that an explosion targeted a militant hideout in the Bermal area of Afghanistan’s Paktika province, with jet aircraft carrying out an airstrike that destroyed militant infrastructure.

Following the strike in Paktika, another attack was reported in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, with further airstrikes later reported in the Ghani Khel, Behsud and Argoon areas. The number of possible militant casualties could not be confirmed, Afghan media said.

The strikes early Sunday came days after Pakistan summoned the Afghan mission and lodged a strong demarche with the Afghan Taliban authorities over the deadly terrorist attack in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that martyred 11 Pakistan Army soldiers.

“Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the vehicle-borne suicide terrorist attack, followed by a fire raid on Pakistan military and law enforcement agencies’ post in Bajaur, carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Fitna al Khwarij),” stated a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The demarche followed the cowardly terrorist attack on a joint checkpost of the security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) on February 16.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 12 terrorists belonging to an India-backed proxy were killed while 11 security personnel embraced martyrdom in the attack.

The foreign office, in the demarche, conveyed serious concern that the TTP, whose leadership is based in Afghanistan, continues to operate with impunity from Afghan soil.

It was re-emphasised that Pakistan has repeatedly received assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime, but, regrettably, no visible or concrete action has followed.

The Afghan Taliban regime was told to take immediate, concrete, and verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from its territory, including their leadership, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said the Afghan Taliban regime was also categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate any Khwarij belonging to the TTP along with their affiliates, wherever they are located, to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians and territorial boundaries.

Pakistan has experienced a rise in cross-border terrorist incidents since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The provinces of KP and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan, have been particularly affected by these attacks.