Pakistan early on Friday launched Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban regime after the neighboring nation initiated “unprovoked” attacks on checkposts along the Pak-Afghan border.
“A total of 133 Afghan Taliban are confirmed killed, more than 200 wounded,” claimed Prime Minister’s spokesperson for Foreign Media Mosharraf Zaidi at 3:45 a.m. “Many more casualties estimated in strikes in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar military targets,” he said, adding 27 Afghan Taliban posts had been razed, while nine were captured.
“Two Corps Headquarters, three Brigade Headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters and more than 80 tanks, artillery, and armed personnel carriers have been destroyed,” he continued, emphasizing that Islamabad’s response to the Taliban regime’s aggression was ongoing.
The intense overnight clashes mark one of the most serious escalations in recent months between the neighboring states. According to security sources, Afghan forces initiated unprovoked firing on multiple Pakistani positions across border areas, including Chitral, Bajaur, Khyber, Mohmand and Kurram, prompting a swift and forceful response by the armed forces. In addition to clashes between ground troops on the border, the Pakistan Air Force carried out precision strikes targeting militant positions in border areas of Afghanistan.
Pakistani officials insist no Pakistani posts were captured or significantly damaged. Security sources further said the Afghan Taliban’s attempts to attack Pakistani security forces’ checkposts using quadcopters had failed, adding Pakistani forces had shot down all quadcopters in swift and timely action.
Both the Foreign Ministry and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) have described the offensive as necessary to defend territorial integrity. They have warned of further responses should cross-border aggression continue.
By contrast, the Afghan Taliban regime has dubbed Pakistan’s legitimate response as an escalatory violation of Afghan sovereignty. They have also claimed a halt to operations after hours of combat, though there is no independent verification of any of these claims.
According to Zaidi, reports suggesting territorial losses or casualties on the Pakistani side were unfounded and driven by what he described as Indian proxies operating from Afghan soil.
In a statement, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Afghan Taliban regime initiated hostilities and then attempted to deflect attention through “false and baseless propaganda” on social media. He alleged Afghan Taliban-linked and Indian social media accounts were circulating misleading information about the clashes. “These rumors have no connection with reality,” he said, referring to Afghan claims of Pakistani losses.
Tarar said Pakistan would not allow “lies and propaganda” to obscure developments on the ground, insisting the country’s forces were thwarting the designs of attackers. He stressed Pakistan’s forces were acting with professionalism and resolve, adding cross-border firing from the Afghan side in defense of militants had exposed the Afghan Taliban regime before the international community.
He warned that any hostile designs against Pakistan would continue to be thwarted. “We will keep neutralizing the malicious intentions of every enemy who casts an evil eye on our country,” he vowed.
State-run PTV, meanwhile, has reported that the Afghan Taliban have “waved white flags” over several posts under pressure from Pakistan’s response.
‘Serious consequences’
In a statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Afghan Taliban for targeting civilians along the Pak-Afghan border. He said Pakistan’s armed forces had responded befittingly to the open aggression by the Afghan Taliban regime. “The cowardly enemy struck in the darkness of night. The Afghan Taliban made a despicable attempt to target innocent civilians,” he said. “The nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces. The Afghan Taliban made a terrible mistake by attacking. They will have to face serious consequences. We will not allow our security to be compromised,” he added.
Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the people and the armed forces of Pakistan are always ready to protect the country’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. “The resolve of the Pakistan armed forces is that under no circumstances will they allow any harm to come to the country’s peace and security,” he said, warning the armed forces possess the full capability to crush any aggressive intentions to dust.
“Under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan armed forces are performing their duties with national zeal,” he said, warning there would be no compromise on the defense of the homeland. “Pakistan has always promoted peace; however, no harm will be allowed to come to the country’s territorial integrity, and the Pakistan armed forces will firmly confront every aggression,” he added.
President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the strikes, emphasizing that Pakistan would not compromise on peace and territorial integrity. “Our armed forces’ response is comprehensive and decisive,” he said. “Those who mistake our peace for weakness will face a strong response—and no one will be beyond reach,” he warned.
In a statement on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused the Afghan Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a “colony” of India. “They gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women,” he wrote, stressing Islamabad had repeatedly attempted to maintain peace through diplomacy.
“Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, Alhamdulillah, our forces are giving a decisive response,” he wrote. “In the past, Pakistan’s role has been positive. It has hosted 5 million Afghans for 50 years. Even today, millions of Afghans are earning their livelihood on our soil. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you,” he said. “Pakistan’s Army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbors; we know your ins and outs,” he warned.
International reactions
In a statement on X, Iran has offered to help “facilitate dialogue” to resolve the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” wrote Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Human Rights chief Volker Türk have also both commented on the unfolding situation, according to the BBC. Guterres urged both nations to adhere strictly to their obligations under international law, specifically emphasizing international humanitarian law, while Türk appealed for dialogue between the two countries.
The latest clashes must be understood against a backdrop of persistent tensions over militant sanctuaries and terrorism emanating from Afghan territory. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban regime to prevent the use of their soil for plotting and launching attacks inside Pakistan to no avail.
A U.N. Security Council monitoring team report recently rejected claims by Afghan authorities that no militants operate inside Afghanistan, noting the documented presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters, Islamic State-Khorasan Province and other armed groups within Afghan provinces close to the Pak-Afghan border. The report highlighted that an estimated 6,000 TTP fighters and other militants continued to operate from bases across eastern Afghanistan, often launching complex attacks across the Durand Line into Pakistani territory.