‘Calibrated’ air strikes target terrorist hideouts at two locations in Afghanistan: info ministry

Pakistan carried out “well-planned and calibrated” air strikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, the information ministry said on Thursday. In a post on X, the ministry said the strikes were carried out in continuation of Operation Ghazab lil Haq and Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorists, their networks and supporters. It said the aerial strikes targeted the hideouts and safe havens of terrorist organisations it referred to as Fitna al Khwarij and Fitna al Hindustan, and resulted in the deaths of “multiple terrorists”. The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and refers to designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. The statement added, “Based on credible intelligence, selective targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts at two locations belonging to Fitna al Khawarij, Fitna al Hindustan and their affiliates has been carried out in Afghanistan with precision and accuracy. ” The ministry said the targets were destroyed, with initial reports suggesting that 22 terrorists had been killed. “Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these hideouts were also destroyed, ” it said. The ministry added that Pakistan had always stressed regional peace and stability, but held that the safety of Pakistani citizens remained the “foremost priority”. The statement expressed concern that Afghanistan “continues to remain a hub of terrorism. The threat to Pakistan emanates from Afghanistan”, adding that, keeping in view the fact, the strikes had targeted terrorist hubs and “maximum precaution” was taken to ensure “no collateral damage”. It added that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign Ghazab lil Haq will continue at “full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded. According to a UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report — covering the period from Dec 16, 2025, to June 9, 2026 — Afghan Taliban’s continued support for TTP has contributed to a rise in the frequency and lethality of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, even as Kabul has taken some initial steps to rein in the group. The report also pointed to growing operational and facilitation linkages among the TTP, Al Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIL-K) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Pak-Afghan tensions Ties between the two neighbours have been strained in the past few years as Islamabad continues to voice its concern over cross-border terrorism. September witnessed another bout of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On Sept 21, in response to recent major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan conducted “calibrated” airstrikes in the border region with Afghanistan against terrorist hideouts, with the government saying more than 28 terrorists were killed. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the action as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which was launched on the night of Feb 26 in response to unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban. Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that had entered Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat. It was also reported that the Afghan Taliban engaged in unprovoked firing the night before near Kurram as security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to cross into Pakistan. In retaliation to the drone incursion, Pakistan conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” in 10 locations across Afghanistan. On Sunday, the Foreign Office (FO) said a demarche was also delivered to the Afghan side on account of airspace violation by drones on Sept 23. The demarche was delivered on Sept 26, the FO spokesperson said in a statement. The information ministry had also dismissed claims last week by the Afghan defence ministry of a Pakistani post having been destroyed near the Spin Boldak border — the frontier between Balochistan and Kandahar.

Read full story on Dawn