Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday said that 297 personnel of the Taliban regime and Khwarij have been killed so far in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, while more than 400 others have been injured.
Addressing a press conference, the DG ISPR said the Pakistan Armed Forces had completely destroyed 89 posts and captured 18 others. According to conservative estimates, 115 tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and artillery pieces were destroyed, he added.
The DG ISPR stated that the Afghan Taliban regime opened fire at 53 localities across 15 sectors along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In response, security forces not only repulsed the attacks but also eliminated 274 personnel of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khwarij, he said.
Ahmed Sharif said that 22 locations in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika were selected as specific targets during the operation. “All these targets were carefully selected based on intelligence,” he said, adding that they were strictly military targets and that great care was taken to avoid civilian collateral damage.
He went on to say that the targets included corps headquarters of Afghan Taliban forces, brigade headquarters, battalion headquarters, sector headquarters, ammunition depots, logistics bases, and hideouts providing shelter to terrorists and their facilitators.
The DG ISPR said that 12 brave sons of the soil have embraced martyrdom so far, while 27 others sustained injuries while safeguarding Pakistan’s territorial integrity. One soldier remains missing in action, he added.
DG ISPR, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry termed the Afghan Taliban regime the “master proxy” of terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, saying it came into action last night in coordination with terrorists of Fitna al-Khwarij.
“This aggression was carried out by this master proxy in coordination, collusion, and support of a terrorist organisation,” he said.
The DG ISPR said the Pakistan Air Force conducted overnight strikes targeting installations in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, and Laghman.
He warned that perpetrators of terrorist incidents in Pakistan would not find safe haven anywhere.
He said Afghan media, certain social media platforms, and “Indian proxies” were spreading misinformation, alleging that Pakistani forces had targeted civilian locations. “You have been hearing this lie since last night,” he said, adding, “At no place was any civilian infrastructure targeted. These were all military targets.”
He said that the targeted sites were locations from where Afghan Taliban forces had launched attacks against Pakistan.
The DG ISPR said the Pakistan Armed Forces delivered an effective, immediate, and robust response to the Afghan Taliban’s aggression. “It was a well-deserved response to terrorists, their facilitators, and the master proxy of terrorism in the region,” he added.
He remarked that after India received a shock with Bunyan-um-Marsoos, Afghanistan had now received one as well.
Praising public support, he said, “The people of this nation stand in front of, behind, and alongside this army. We draw our strength, resolve, and aspirations from the people of Pakistan.”
He said that the Afghan Taliban regime attempted to use rudimentary drones to carry out attacks in Sibi, Abbottabad, and Nowshera. “Our anti-drone systems neutralised them,” he said, adding that the attempt demonstrated how the Afghan Taliban regime “operates as a master proxy.”
Responding to a question, he alleged that Indian sponsorship, abetment, and planning were behind every terrorist attack.
However, he said Pakistan’s armed forces remained fully prepared “whether on the eastern or western border.”
To another question, the DG ISPR said the political leadership was united on the issue of terrorism. “Let there be no doubt that whatever political differences may exist, all political parties and leadership are absolutely clear that there is no space for terrorism or its facilitation in Pakistan,” he said.
He said that the National Action Plan was formulated with consensus from all political parties and continued to be respected.
The DG ISPR also called on the Afghan Taliban to make a “clear choice” between Pakistan and terrorist organisations. “I want to make one thing clear: the oppressive Afghan Taliban regime must choose between TTP, BLA, Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist organisations – or Pakistan,” he said.
Defense system downs drones in KP
Separately, Pakistan’s security forces successfully thwarted attempted drone attacks on Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera, with all unmanned aerial vehicles shot down before causing any damage, security sources confirmed. Officials said no casualties were reported in the incidents.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also confirmed that all drones were neutralized by Pakistan’s anti-drone system and no casualties were reported.