A Pakistani army soldier stands guard on a border terminal in Ghulam Khan, a town in North Waziristan, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Photo: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan carried out a series of airstrikes inside Afghanistan and repelled an infiltration attempt along the border in North Waziristan district as part of the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, which officials say will continue until its designated objectives are achieved.
Security sources said the armed forces conducted successful aerial strikes during the night of March 12-13, targeting multiple terrorist hideouts and facilities across Afghanistan. Among the key targets were the infrastructure of the 313 Corps in Kabul and the Tarawo terrorist camp in Kandahar, which were destroyed in the operation.
The strikes were described as a response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban. According to sources, four major terrorist hideouts were targeted during the night operation, including installations linked to the Afghan Taliban and groups referred to as Fitna al-Khawarij.
During the aerial operations, an oil storage site at Kandahar Airfield and its adjoining logistics infrastructure were also destroyed. Another strike targeted the Sherinaw terrorist camp in Afghanistan’s Paktia province.
Officials said the attacks were carried out with precision and focused only on facilities supporting militant activity. The authorities rejected claims that civilian infrastructure had been targeted.
Security sources said the released footage of the strikes showed that only installations directly or indirectly supporting terrorism and militant camps were hit, while civilian areas remained untouched.
Meanwhile, security forces also foiled an infiltration attempt near Sadaq village in North Waziristan. According to officials, militants identified as members of the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij – a term used for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – tried to cross into Pakistani territory but were forced to retreat after troops responded swiftly.
Officials said the attackers faced strong resistance on multiple fronts, forcing them to withdraw. Security forces remain on high alert along the border and are committed to preventing cross-border militant incursions, sources added.
Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was launched on February 27 following renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after Afghan Taliban forces reportedly fired on multiple locations. The name is interpreted as the ‘Righteous Fury’, reflecting a forceful response to aggression.
According to the latest figures shared by security officials, the operation has inflicted heavy losses on terrorist positions across Afghanistan. A total of 663 Afghan Taliban operatives have been killed and more than 887 injured so far.
The officials said 249 Afghan posts had been destroyed while 44 others were captured. In addition, 224 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns were destroyed during the course of the operation. Air operations have also targeted around 70 terrorist locations and support infrastructure sites across Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly called on Kabul to provide verifiable assurances that Afghan territory will not be used for attacks against Pakistan. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had said that Islamabad reserved the right to respond in self-defence against cross-border aggression.
Drones
Security agencies intercepted two rudimentary drones near Rawalpindi on Friday, successfully bringing them down through electronic countermeasures, while a separate suspected drone incident in Kohat left two people injured after debris fell to the ground.
Security sources said the drones were detected at two locations adjacent to Rawalpindi and were neutralised before causing any damage.
Officials confirmed that there were no casualties or property damage in the Rawalpindi incident. Airspace restrictions imposed as a precaution were later lifted, restoring normal flight operations.
Earlier, speculation about disruptions at Islamabad International Airport had circulated after the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) briefly stated on X, in a post later deleted, that flight operations had experienced a “brief operational adjustment”.
Several media outlets subsequently reported that the airport had been closed for flights. However, the PAA later clarified that such reports were “baseless”.
“Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport are continuing without interruption and all flights are operating according to schedule,” the authority said, urging the public to rely on official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.
In a related development, the main ceremony marking Pakistan Day on March 23 will be held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will perform a flypast as part of the commemorative event.
Officials said that PAF aircraft have already begun rehearsals for the aerial display to ensure smooth execution of the flypast during the ceremony.
Unlike previous years, authorities confirmed that no military parade will be held this year, and the Pakistan Day celebrations will instead feature the flypast by PAF aircraft.
Meanwhile, in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Shafi Jan condemned suspected drone flights in the area, saying police acted swiftly to neutralise the threat.
According to a statement issued by the provincial government’s information office, a specialised police team used an anti-drone system to jam the signals of a suspicious drone.
The disruption caused the drone’s motor to shut down, forcing it to crash to the ground.
Authorities said two individuals were injured when debris from the downed drone fell nearby. The injured were immediately provided medical treatment.
Shafi Jan said the incident demonstrated the effective use of modern technology by law enforcement, adding that any attempt to destabilise peace in Kohat or elsewhere in the province would be thwarted.
The provincial government has recently approved a Rs31 billion package aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the police, Shafi Jan said. So far, more than Rs7 billion has been spent on the procurement of modern weapons, anti-drone jamming systems and other advanced technologies.
He reaffirmed that the government remained fully committed to maintaining peace and security across the province.
The provincial information adviser also condemned the recent bombing near a police vehicle in Lakki Marwat, saying Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had sought a report from the inspector general of police regarding the incident.
“We share the grief of the families of the martyrs and they will not be left alone,” he said.
