Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Monday that Pakistani security forces have killed 435 Afghan Taliban fighters and destroyed 188 tanks and vehicles during Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched in response to unprovoked action from across the border.

 

Tarar said that more than 630 Afghan operatives were injured during the operation, 188 tanks and armoured vehicles were destroyed, 31 Afghan posts were taken over, 188 check posts were destroyed, and 51 locations inside Afghanistan were targeted in air strikes.

He stressed that the operation was carried out following cross-border action and outlined the losses sustained by the Afghan Taliban.

 

The escalation follows months of clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

Pakistan had earlier conducted air strikes inside Afghanistan, targeting camps linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan after a series of attacks in the country, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad. Security officials had said at the time that more than 80 militants were killed.

 

Those strikes were followed by attacks along the border from the Afghan side, leading to further exchanges.

 

Islamabad has repeatedly stated that TTP leaders operate from Afghan territory, an allegation denied by Kabul.

Tensions also rose after explosions in Kabul on October 9 last year. Taliban forces later targeted areas along Pakistan’s border. Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling. The exchanges resulted in casualties and damage on both sides and led to the suspension of trade after border crossings were closed.