Pakistan–Afghanistan Border Erupts: Islamabad Launches “Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq” After Deadly Cross-Border Fire

Islamabad launches Operation Ghazb-e-Lil Haq after deadly cross-border fire, escalating tensions with the Afghan Taliban.

By News Desk
By News Desk
Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq

In a late-night operation, Pakistan has launched Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban following the opening of unprovoked firing from Afghan posts on Pak-Afghan border. Information Minister Atta Tarar says that Afghan Taliban opened unprovoked firing on multiple locations across the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Chitral to Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors on Thursday evening.

Pakistan claims that they have lost two security personnel in the ongoing clashes while they have killed 133 Afghan Taliban operatives in the late-night operation. State media has reported that Pakistan Air Force has conducted multiple airstrikes within Afghanistan, destroying an ammunition depot in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. There are reports that Afghan families that were to be repatriated have been sent back to a holding center in Khyber’s Landikotal from the Torkham border.

Throughout the night, heavy firing was reported across several sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral. According to the state media, the Pakistan struck two brigade headquarters in Kabul, a corps headquarters and an ammunition depot in Kandahar. In total, 27 Taliban posts were reportedly destroyed and nine were captured. Two Pakistani security Pakistani Air Force jets have been reported patrolling the skies of Kandahar to deter further aggression.

Read more: Pakistan–Taliban Conflict Erupts into “Open War” After Overnight Airstrikes

Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has accused the Taliban of making Afghanistan a colony of India and acting as a proxy to export terrorism into Pakistan. Pakistan has been long accusing Afghan Taliban of giving shelters to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a staunch enemy of Pakistan, that have been involved in orchestrating attacks on Pakistan’s armed forces for some time. Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary is expected to hold an important press conference on Pak-Afghan situation today at 4 p.m. on Friday.

The press conference will be broadcast live by state-run PTV. Several videos of Pakistan striking the several locations inside Afghanistan have been emerging on social media. Pakistan’s forces have captured a post of the Afghan Taliban in the topser sector and hosted the Pakistani flag there. Security sources say in an update issued. They have also taken possession of a vehicle abandoned by Afghan Taliban fighters. Pakistan claims to have heavily damaged the Manoj Jagba post on Pak-Afghan border.

According to security sources, Pakistan also suffered heavy losses on its border terminal post in the Wazirak sector. Pakistan conducted a robust retaliatory response following. Security forces claimed that the Afghan Charli post and Afghan Babri post in the Angoor Adda sector were completely destroyed during the engagement. Authorities have described the military response as a defensive measure intended to safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity and preempt any potential threats arising from the cross-border hostilities.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Afghan Taliban government, has also confirmed Pakistan targeted three cities including the Kandahar, Paktia, and Kabul. Several countries including Qatar, Iran,  Russia and China have stepped forward to offer mediation between Pakistan and Afghanistan to offer a peaceful solution for the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

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