Pakistan's military announced early Monday that its security forces had killed more than 20 militants in precision strikes targeting alleged militant hideouts inside Afghanistan. The operation came in retaliation for a militant attack on Saturday that killed three Pakistani paramilitary troops in Karachi.
Attack on Rangers camp in Karachi
According to Pakistan's military, militants from Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), attacked a camp of the paramilitary Rangers force in Karachi on Saturday night. The Rangers personnel killed three attackers and captured one injured suspect, who was identified as an Afghan national. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, stated on Sunday that Pakistan would “undertake retribution operations against the perpetrators of this attack to avenge the Shahadat (martyrdom) of its soldiers.”
Intelligence-based operation in Bajaur
In a post on X, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the northwestern Bajaur district, killing a militant commander, Khan Farosh alias Zabal, along with three other militants belonging to what he termed “Indian proxy Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.”
Cross-border strikes in Afghanistan
Tarar further stated: “Based on credible intelligence, precise targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al khwarij (Pakistani Taliban) have also been carried out on night [of] 28/29 June, in border region of Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes killing twenty five terrorists. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these Marakiz and hideouts were also destroyed.”
Reactions and denials
There was no immediate response from Afghanistan or India to the statement. Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of allowing its soil to be used by militant groups for cross-border attacks, and has also alleged Indian backing for such groups. Kabul and New Delhi have consistently denied these accusations. The attacks have further strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to fierce clashes since February this year. Tarar reiterated Pakistan's stance: “Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time shall not compromise on the safety and security of our citizens, which remains our top priority.”
