Ghazab Lil Haq

2026-02-27 - 20:54

THE Afghan Taliban suffered massive losses in retaliatory attacks launched by Pakistan defence forces on Thursday in response to unprovoked firing across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Full extent of the damage will become clear with the passage of time but initial reports confirmed killing of 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and injury to over two hundred others during robust and effective airstrikes by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) against military installations of the regime in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. According to an official statement, 27 Taliban posts were destroyed and nine captured, signalling sustained degradation of enemy positions in the operation ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’. Key infrastructure hit included two Corps Headquarters, three Brigade Headquarters, two ammunition depots, a logistics base, three battalion headquarters and two sector headquarters. Additionally, more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and armoured personnel carriers were destroyed. The scope of the operation and the extent of the damages incurred on the other side indicate firm resolve of Pakistan that it will not compromise on the security of its citizens, who are being martyred by militants enjoying hospitality and support of the Kabul regime. This is surely self-defence as infrastructure of the Afghan Taliban is fully being used by the TTP militants to carry out dastardly terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan targeted only hideouts of terrorists in Afghanistan but the Taliban government misinterpreted the message and instead of holding TTP accountable for its criminal activities it preferred launching aggression against Pakistan, therefore, got a chilling response. The statement also declared that further counter-attacks would follow, reinforcing Pakistan’s resolve to respond immediately and effectively to any aggression. There were also reports that after carrying out strikes, Pakistani aircraft patrolled Kandahar airspace and that strong and decisive counter-operation forced the militants to flee in panic. Taliban fighters loaded goods onto trucks and retreated from the Torkham border. It has been reported that the Afghan Taliban also attempted to strike Pakistani security check posts using quadcopters, but the attacks were thwarted after Pakistani forces shot down all the drones in a swift and coordinated response. The latest situation is unfortunate and not in the interest of the two countries, which are suffering losses in multiple ways because of their continued tension but the onus of responsibility lies on the Afghan Taliban as they are persisting with their open support for the TTP, using them as a weapon against Pakistan. The hostilities are also causing economic harm to the two countries because of effective suspension of bilateral trade for several months. Pakistan exhausted all avenues for peaceful resolution of its security concerns proposing joint action against TTP elements but the Kabul regime paid no heed to the legitimate complaints and proposals of Pakistan. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has declared the country’s patience has run out with the Taliban authorities in Kabul and Pakistan would now be waging an ‘open war’. The Minister pointed out that Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries but the Afghan Taliban have become a proxy of India. In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also declared that the whole nation was united behind the defence forces in safeguarding the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. He added that there will be no leniency in defending our beloved homeland and any aggression will be met with a fitting response. The United Nations has called for an urgent de-escalation, urging the parties to seek resolution of differences through diplomatic channels. This is what the two countries should do despite bitter experience of Pakistan in this regard following encounters of last year.