Air strike in Afghanistan. Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan 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 Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, which officials said will continue until designated objectives are achieved.
Security sources said the military carried out successful airstrikes during the night of March 12-13, targeting multiple terrorist hideouts and facilities across Afghanistan. Among the key targets were the 313 Corps infrastructure in Kabul and the Tarawo terrorist camp in Kandahar, which were destroyed in the operation.
The attacks were described as a response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban. According to sources, four major terrorist hideouts were attacked during the night operation, including facilities linked to the Afghan Taliban and groups called Fitna al-Khawarij.
An oil storage site at Kandahar airfield and its adjacent logistics infrastructure were also destroyed during the air operations. Another attack targeted the Sherinaw terrorist camp in Afghanistan’s Paktia province.
Authorities said the attacks were carried out with precision and focused solely on facilities that supported militant activity. Authorities rejected claims that civilian infrastructure had been attacked.
Security sources said released images of the attacks showed that only facilities directly or indirectly supporting terrorism and militant camps were hit, while civilian areas remained intact.
Meanwhile, security forces also foiled an infiltration attempt near Sadaq village in North Waziristan. According to officials, militants identified as members of the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij – the term used to refer to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – attempted to cross into Pakistani territory, but were forced to withdraw after troops quickly responded.
Authorities said the attackers faced stiff resistance on multiple fronts, forcing them to retreat. Security forces remain on high alert along the border and are committed to preventing cross-border militant incursions, the sources added.
Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was launched on February 27 following fresh clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after Afghan Taliban forces reportedly fired on multiple 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 has caused heavy losses in terrorist positions across Afghanistan. So far, a total of 663 Afghan Taliban operatives have been killed and more than 887 wounded.
Officials said 249 Afghan posts had been destroyed and another 44 were captured. In addition, 224 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery pieces were destroyed during the operation. Air operations have also targeted some 70 terrorist locations and supporting infrastructure sites across Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly asked Kabul to provide verifiable assurances that Afghan territory will not be used for attacks against Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had said Islamabad reserved the right to respond in self-defense against cross-border aggression.
Drones
Security agencies intercepted two rudimentary drones near Rawalpindi on Friday and successfully brought them down using electronic countermeasures, while another alleged 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 were neutralized before causing any damage.
Authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or property damage in the Rawalpindi incident. Airspace restrictions imposed as a precautionary measure were subsequently lifted, restoring normal flight operations.
Earlier, speculation had circulated about disruptions at Islamabad International Airport after the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) briefly stated in X, in a since-deleted post, that flight operations had undergone a “brief operational adjustment”.
Subsequently, several media outlets reported that the airport had been closed to flights. However, the PAA later clarified that such reports were “unfounded.”
“Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport continue without interruption and all flights are operating as planned,” the authority said, urging the public to trust official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.
In a related development, the main ceremony commemorating Pakistan Day on March 23 will be held at Aiwan-e-Sadr where Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft will conduct a flyover as part of the commemorative event.
Officials said PAF aircraft have already started rehearsals for the air show to ensure smooth execution of the flight during the ceremony.
Unlike previous years, authorities confirmed that no military parade will be held this year and that Pakistan Day celebrations will feature the flyover of PAF aircraft.
Meanwhile, in Kohat, Special Assistant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister for Information Shafi Jan condemned the alleged drone flights in the area and said the police acted quickly to neutralize the threat.
According to a statement issued by the provincial government’s information office, a specialized police team used an anti-drone system to jam the signals of a suspicious drone.
The interruption caused the drone’s motor 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 Khan said the incident demonstrated the effective use of modern technology by law enforcement, adding that any attempt to destabilize peace in Kohat or anywhere else in the province would be thwarted.
The provincial government recently approved a 31 billion rupees package aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the police, Shafi Jan said. So far, more than 7 billion rupees have been spent on the procurement of modern weapons, drone anti-jamming systems and other advanced technologies.
He reaffirmed that the government remained fully committed to maintaining peace and security throughout the province.
The provincial information advisor also condemned the recent bomb attack near a police vehicle in Lakki Marwat and said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had sought a report from the inspector general of police on the incident.
“We share the pain of the families of the martyrs and we will not leave them alone,” he said.
