On 28th June (Sunday), Pakistan claimed to kill 29 people after an “intelligence-based ground operation” and “calibrated strikes” on terrorist hideouts and safe havens. Afghanistan pointed out that civilians including women and children were targeted by Pakistani forces.
“As a result of precise and skillful engagement, high value Khwarji Commander Khan Farosh aka Zabal along with 3 terrorists belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar were sent to hell while several others got injured,” wrote Attaullah Tarar, federal minister for information and broadcasting of Pakistan. This action transpired near Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district.
He labelled the terrorist group as an “Indian proxy,” in accordance with the Islamic Republic’s policy of improperly attributing blame to New Delhi which has been categorically dismissed by the Modi government.
“In continuation of Operation Ghazb Lil Haq, based on credible intelligence, precise targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al khwarij have also been carried out on night 28/29 June, in border region of Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes killing twenty-five terrorists. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these Marakiz and hideouts were also destroyed,” Tarar further alleged.
The operation took place the day after security officers were killed in an attack on a Sindh Rangers headquarters in Gulistan-i-Jauhar locality in Karachi. The main gate of the property was rammed by the assailants who opened fire and threw grenades. Three terrorists were reportedly killed while one was injured who was taken into custody. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a split group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan took responsibility of the incident.
The minister stated that it was a retaliatory move after “recent multiple terrorist incidents inside Pakistan against the innocent people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Balochistan and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp, Karachi.”
On the other hand, Taliban government’s chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid informed, “Last night, the Pakistani military once again carried out airstrikes on civilian areas in Gayan District of Paktika Province, Tsamkani District of Paktia Province, and Manogai District of Kunar Province, Afghanistan.” He highlighted, “The attacks resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians, including women and children. We strongly condemn this cowardly act of aggression and consider it a crime and an act of brutality.”
The present tensions are the latest escalation of hostility between the two neighbours whose ties have been deeply fraught since 2021, when the Taliban took control of Kabul and follow prolonged clashes that commenced in the beginning of the year.
