Airstrike in Afghanistan. Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has 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 Ghazab Lil Haq operation, which officials say will continue until the set targets are achieved.
Security sources said the armed forces successfully carried out airstrikes on the night of March 12-13, targeting several terrorist hideouts and installations across Afghanistan. Among the main targets were the infrastructure of the 313 Corps in Kabul and the Tarawo terrorist camp in Kandahar, which were destroyed during 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 nighttime operation, including facilities linked to the Afghan Taliban and groups called Fitna al-Khawarij.
During the air operations, an oil storage site at Kandahar Airfield and its adjacent logistics infrastructure were also destroyed. Another strike targeted the Sherinaw terrorist camp in the Afghan province of Paktia.
Officials said the attacks were carried out with precision and focused only on facilities supporting militant activities. Authorities have rejected claims that civilian infrastructure was targeted.
Security sources said broadcast 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. Officials said militants identified as members of the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij – a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – attempted to cross into Pakistani territory but were forced to retreat after troops responded quickly.
Officials said the attackers encountered heavy resistance on several fronts, forcing them to withdraw. Security forces remain on alert along the border and are determined to prevent 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 several locations. The name is interpreted as “Righteous Fury”, reflecting a forceful response to aggression.
According to the latest figures shared by security officials, the operation inflicted heavy losses on terrorist positions across Afghanistan. A total of 663 members of the Afghan Taliban have been killed and more than 887 injured so far.
Officials said 249 Afghan posts were destroyed while 44 others were captured. In addition, 224 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery pieces were destroyed during the operation. The air operations also targeted approximately 70 terrorist sites and supporting infrastructure sites throughout Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly asked Kabul to provide verifiable assurances that Afghan territory would not be used for attacks against Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad reserves the right to respond in self-defense against cross-border aggression.
Drones
Security agencies intercepted two crude drones near Rawalpindi on Friday, bringing them down using electronic countermeasures, while another 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 neutralized before causing any damage.
Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or material damage during the incident in Rawalpindi. Airspace restrictions imposed as a precaution were subsequently lifted, restoring normal flight operations.
Earlier, speculation about disruptions at the Islamabad International Airport had circulated after the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) briefly told X, in a post later deleted, that flight operations had seen a “brief operational adjustment”.
Several media outlets subsequently reported that the airport had been closed to flights. However, the PAA later clarified that these reports were “baseless.”
“Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport continue without interruption and all flights are operating as per schedule,” the authority said, appealing to the public to trust official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.
On a related note, the main ceremony marking Pakistan Day on March 23 will take place at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will perform a flypast as part of the commemorative event.
Officials said PAF aircraft have already started rehearsals for the aerial display to ensure smooth conduct of the flypast during the ceremony.
Unlike previous years, authorities have confirmed that no military parade will take place this year and that Pakistan Day celebrations will instead include a flypast by PAF aircraft.
Meanwhile, in Kohat, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shafi Jan condemned the alleged drone flights in the region, saying the police acted quickly to neutralize the menace.
According to a statement released by the provincial government information office, a specialized police team used an anti-drone system to jam the signals of a suspicious drone.
The disturbance caused the drone’s engine to shut down, forcing it to crash to the ground.
Authorities said two people were injured when debris from the downed drone fell nearby. The injured received immediate medical attention.
Shafi Jan said the incident demonstrated the effective use of modern technology by law enforcement agencies, adding that any attempt to destabilize peace in Kohat or elsewhere in the province would be thwarted.
The provincial government recently approved a 31 billion rupee program to strengthen the operational capacity of the police, Shafi Jan said. So far, more than 7 billion rupees have been spent on purchasing modern weapons, anti-drone jamming systems and other advanced technologies.
He reiterated that the government remained fully committed to maintaining peace and security across the province.
The provincial information advisor also condemned the recent bomb attack near a police vehicle in Lakki Marwat, saying that 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.
