Pakistan Initiates Major Military Operation Against Afghan Taliban
In a significant escalation of border tensions, Pakistan launched cross-border military strikes late Thursday night under the codename Operation "Ghazab lil-Haq". The operation, which translates to "Righteous Fury," represents Pakistan's retaliatory response to what it describes as "unprovoked firing" by the Afghan Taliban across multiple border sectors.
Official Statements and Casualty Reports
Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 injured during the extensive military campaign. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistani armed forces were delivering a strong response to what he termed aggression from the Afghan Taliban forces.
According to Tarar, the operation specifically targeted Afghan Taliban defence installations in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar, with the possibility of further casualties as assessments continue. The minister reported that at least 27 posts of the Afghan Taliban regime were destroyed and nine others were captured during the military action.
Scope and Scale of Military Targets
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq represents a comprehensive military campaign targeting key Taliban installations and defence positions. According to detailed official reports, the strikes successfully destroyed:
- Two corps headquarters
- Three brigade headquarters
- Two ammunition depots
- One logistics base
- Three battalion headquarters
- Two sector headquarters
Additionally, the operation reportedly destroyed more than 80 tanks, artillery guns, and armored personnel vehicles belonging to Taliban forces. Pakistan's state broadcaster PTV News confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force targeted important Taliban military installations across multiple Afghan provinces.
Afghanistan's Response and Counter-Claims
In response to the Pakistani military action, Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defence issued a detailed statement claiming that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations conducted along the disputed Durand Line. This 2,611-kilometer border between the two nations has never been officially recognized by Afghanistan, adding historical complexity to the current conflict.
The Afghan ministry stated that their response was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan (corresponding to February 26) in retaliation for what they described as Pakistani military forces violating Afghan territory days earlier. Their official statement read: "A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here."
Afghan Military Operations and Damage Assessment
According to the Afghan defence ministry, their forces targeted Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line near multiple provinces including Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar, and Nuristan. The four-hour operation reportedly resulted in:
- Destruction of two Pakistani military bases
- Destruction of 19 Pakistani military posts
- Abandonment of four additional posts by Pakistani soldiers
- Destruction of one enemy tank
- Capture of a large military transport vehicle
The cross-border strikes and subsequent retaliatory actions represent one of the most significant escalations in recent years along the historically tense Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Both nations continue to exchange claims and counter-claims as the situation develops, with international observers monitoring the potential for further escalation in this volatile border region.
