Army says armed forces ‘effectively repelled’ attacks on 53 locations along Pak-Afghan border
DG ISPR addressing a press conference on Friday. SCREENSHOT
Pakistan has “effectively pushed back” Afghan Taliban insurgents at 53 locations along the border, inflicting heavy casualties while exercising restraint to avoid harming civilians, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said at a press briefing on Friday.
“So far, 274 Taliban insurgents have been killed and more than 400 injured,” he said. “Seventy-three posts along the border were destroyed, while 18 posts are now in our possession. » He added that 115 tanks used by the insurgents had also been destroyed in the fighting.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said clashes took place in 22 locations in Kandahar, Kabul and Paktia and other locations, targeting terrorist infrastructure. “We specifically targeted logistics bases and shelters used by terrorists,” he said. “No civilian damage was caused and great care was taken to avoid any harm to civilians.”
He admitted that Pakistan had also suffered losses. “Twelve of our soldiers were martyred, 27 were injured and one is missing,” he said. The military spokesperson warned that Pakistan would respond decisively to any aggression and criticized the Afghan Taliban for adopting hostile rhetoric.
“Earlier, India had developed this bug [to attack]and now the Afghan Taliban have developed the same bug,” he said. “Today, the Afghan Taliban is shamelessly threatening to retaliate against Pakistan. This clearly shows how this principal agent encourages these terrorists.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan would hold the Afghan Taliban regime responsible for any attack originating from Afghan soil. “If there is an attack inside Pakistan, we will take on the Afghan Taliban,” he said. He stressed that the Afghan Taliban must make a clear and decisive choice.
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“The oppressive Afghan Taliban regime must make a clear choice between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Islamic State (Daesh), Al-Qaeda – these terrorist organizations – and Pakistan,” he said. “What I am saying is not something new. The Pakistani government has already expressed this position several times,” he added.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s national resolve, he added: “We are absolutely clear: Pakistan will always come first above all else. » “We have never hesitated to sacrifice for Pakistan and we will always remain ready to make any sacrifice,” DG ISPR said.
He said the operation was carried out in accordance with Pakistan’s right to defend itself. “This operation was carried out in self-defense and everyone understands that,” he said.
DG ISPR also commended the local law enforcement agencies for their efforts in the operation. “We salute the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police who are at the forefront of this battle,” he said.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the operation was ongoing and producing the desired results under the supervision of the government. “The operation is continuing and we are achieving the desired results, personally supervised by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” he added.
Highlighting Pakistan’s broader role in the fight against terrorism, DG ISPR said the country remains at the forefront of regional security efforts. “We are the bulwark against the terrorist threat,” he said. “This threat is not limited to Pakistan alone, but extends to the entire region. »
This is a developing story.
