ISLAMABAD: In a significant escalation of cross-border counter-terrorism efforts, Pakistan conducted a series of “intelligence-based operations” late Sunday night, targeting militant hideouts in multiple provinces of Afghanistan. The military action comes on the heels of a devastating wave of terrorist attacks within Pakistan that have claimed hundreds of lives in recent weeks.
According to an official statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the strikes were a direct response to a series of high-casualty attacks. Official sources confirmed that the recent terrorist incidents—including operations in the federal capital, Islamabad, as well as violent clashes in Bannu and the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—were the catalyst for the military’s response.
“These strikes were made necessary by the continuing and intensified threat posed to our citizens and security forces by terrorist groups operating with impunity from Afghan soil,” a statement from the ministry read.
Precision Strikes Based on “Crucial Intelligence”
Security officials revealed that the operations were meticulously planned, relying on “crucial real-time intelligence” regarding the movement and positioning of high-value terrorist commanders. The primary targets were identified as training camps and operational headquarters belonging to two designated terrorist organizations: the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the Pakistani government officially refers to as Fitna Al Khwarij.
Local sources in Afghanistan confirmed that the sound of jets and explosions reverberated through the night sky in at least four provinces. The ministry confirmed that the operations focused on militant infrastructure in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar, with additional strikes carried out in other locations where militant concentrations were detected.
What We Know So Far
As dawn breaks, a clearer picture of the scope of the operation is beginning to emerge
- Timing: The operation commenced at approximately 12:00 AM local Afghanistan time, according to sources on the ground in Afghanistan.
- Scope: A total of seven distinct locations were struck across the aforementioned provinces. These were not simply border outposts but were described by officials as “terrorist campuses” housing significant logistical and training capabilities for ISKP and TTP fighters.
- Casualties: Initial intelligence and surveillance reports indicate a high rate of success. The security sources says that so far, an estimated 50 terrorists have been eliminated. Among the dead are several “key commanders” who were reportedly planning further infiltrations and attacks inside Pakistan.
- Targets: The complexes targeted were identified as belonging to ISKP and the TTP.
