Operation Ghazab lil-Haq: live updates

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan had sent a delegation to Urumqi, China, for talks with Afghanistan.

Addressing a weekly briefing, Andrabi said that Pakistan is being represented in the talks by senior government officials, noting that details regarding the full composition of the delegation and participants are not currently available.

The meeting in the northwestern city of Urumqi comes after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Beijing on Tuesday to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

China has sought to mediate in the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan says it is targeting extremists who have carried out cross-border attacks.

The information ministry has dismissed multiple fake claims by Afghan Taliban regime and Indian raw mouthpieces, regarding the removal of barbed wire along the Pak-Afghan border as fabricated and devoid of facts.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have launched junior-level diplomatic talks in Urumqi, China, diplomatic sources confirmed to Geo News on Wednesday.

According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan is prepared to engage with Afghanistan through dialogue but will not alter its policy on targeting terrorist hideouts.

To lead the discussions, Pakistan has appointed the Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary to represent Islamabad in the talks.

The repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals has resumed at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing at Torkham on Tuesday.

During the latest operation, a large number of Afghan detainees were transferred to a transit camp as part of the ongoing process.

According to border officials, 11 undocumented Afghan nationals, who had been brought from different cities across the country, were shifted to the Hamza Baba Transit Camp.

After completing the required legal formalities, they were handed over to Afghan border authorities via the Torkham crossing.

In addition, more than 150 Afghan prisoners have been transferred from various prisons to the Hamza Baba Transit Camp, where their documentation and legal processing are currently underway.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi clarified on Thursday that the pause in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq ended on March 24 and had continued after Eid ul Fitr.

He stated that the Op would persist as long as Afghan Taliban regime supports the TTP and militants use Afghan soil against Pakistan.

“Operation Gazab Lil-Haq is ongoing. It is a precise, targeted operation, military campaign directed against terrorist leadership and their support and command, infrastructure, logistics, logistic networks and facilitators and abettors of these terrorist acts within the Taliban regime and in the Taliban controlled area,” he stated.

To another question, he pointed out that Pakistan had explored all avenues for peace and dialogue with the Afghan authorities, but those efforts failed, leaving no option but to initiate the operation.

ISLAMABAD: Resistance movements in Afghanistan have intensified due to the Taliban regime's extremist policies that fuel public frustration.

The National Resistance Front (NRF) released details of its operations over the past year, reporting a total of 401 targeted attacks against the Taliban regime. It said 126 operations were carried out in Afghanistan capital Kabul.

These targeted operations took place across 19 provinces, including Kabul, Panjshir, Badakhshan, and Herat. The group said that the Afghan Taliban regime suffered heavy losses, with 651 operatives reportedly killed and 579 injured during these actions.

Experts said that the growing resistance is a clear indication that the Afghan public is frustrated with the oppressive Taliban regime.

Security analysts also noted that the Taliban are grappling with internal divisions and severe economic challenges.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the country remains committed to "eradicating the menace of terrorism", as the clock ticked down to the end of a temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan.

In a message to mark Pakistan Day, Dar indicated that the country's approach to the conflict had not changed.

"Pakistan remains firmly committed to eradicate the menace of terrorism," he said in a statement. "Pakistan´s actions inside Afghanistan... are directed towards this goal."

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir has stressed that terrorists operating from sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan will not be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s security.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Field Marshal Munir, who is also the chief of army staff (COAS), visited Kurram to spend Eid ul Fitr with the troops and officers.

“The field marshal offered Eid prayers, and prayed for the enduring stability and prosperity of Pakistan,” the military’s media wing said.

During his interaction with troops and officers, Field Marshal Munir extended warm Eid greetings and commended their unwavering dedication, high morale, and exemplary professionalism in safeguarding the nation.

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State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that Pakistan’s ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorism has been temporarily halted due to Eid ul Fitr but has not ended, urging the Taliban to fulfil commitments made under the Doha Agreement.

Speaking to reporters, he said Pakistan must prioritise its own security interests, adding that terrorist activities inside the country were being carried out from across the neighbouring state.

He maintained that the pause in the operation was linked to Eid and remained temporary, warning that action would continue as necessary.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan neither sought to impose war nor intended to occupy any part of Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan’s sole demand was that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against it, adding that there would be no dispute if such assurances were provided.

Sanaullah said the operation was aimed at eliminating militant hideouts and safe havens used against Pakistan, warning that any re-emergence of such bases would be closely monitored and responded to accordingly.