Key points

  • Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that precision air strikes under Operation Ghazab lil‑Haq eliminated at least 22 militants in Afghan territory.
  • The raids targeted several terror hideouts, destroying caches of weapons and ammunition stored at the sites.
  • Islamabad stresses that the operations were meticulously planned to limit collateral damage while striking entrenched militant positions.
  • The strikes are presented as part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to dismantle cross‑border extremist networks that threaten security inside the country.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said the aerial missions were carried out by the Pakistan Air Force in coordination with ground intelligence units. According to officials, the attacks focused on three known hideouts in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces, where senior cadres of the Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated groups had been regrouping after a series of recent attacks on Pakistani police and civilian targets.

Security officials added that the strikes not only killed a minimum of 22 militants but also demolished a substantial stockpile of small arms, explosives and ammunition that had been earmarked for future operations against Pakistani security forces. The Ministry emphasized that the operations were “well‑planned and calibrated,” aiming to avoid civilian casualties and to demonstrate Islamabad’s capability to project power beyond its borders when its security is under threat.

The latest cross‑border action comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with a resurgence of militant activity along the western frontier. Analysts note that the elimination of these fighters could temporarily disrupt the logistical pipelines that feed insurgent cells operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. However, they also caution that sustained pressure and diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan will be essential to prevent a cycle of retaliation.

Pakistan’s leadership reiterated its resolve to continue targeting terrorist sanctuaries wherever they are located, while calling for regional cooperation to address the root causes of extremism. The Ministry of Defence concluded that the operation underscores Islamabad’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens and maintaining stability in a volatile neighborhood.