Pakistan says preemptive strikes thwarted planned militant attacks from Afghanistan

Daily News Egypt
3 Min Read

Pakistan said on Saturday it had conducted preemptive precision strikes against militant camps along its border with Afghanistan, thwarting multiple planned militant attacks that were to be launched during a ceasefire between the two countries.

In a press statement, Minister of Information Attaulah Tarar said that during a 48-hour ceasefire, “Kharjis” (a term used by the government to describe terrorists) operating from Afghanistan had attempted to launch several attacks inside Pakistan which were countered by security forces.

He said that in these initial responses, “more than 100 Kharjis were sent to hell.”

Tarar also said the Gul Bahadur group had undertaken a vehicle-borne IED attack in North Waziristan in which civilians and a soldier were killed and multiple people were injured.

In response to these activities, he said Pakistan took further action. “Against Kharjis of Gul Bahadur Group, precision strikes were undertaken last night. In these precision strikes, minimum 60-70 Kharjis and their leadership have been sent to hell based on confirmed intelligence reports,” Tarar stated.

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a ceasefire following days of the deadliest clashes in years that killed dozens of people on both sides of the border. The pause came after appeals from regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Tarar said that all “speculations and assertions” about civilians being targeted in the strikes were false and “meant to generate support for terrorist groups operating from inside Afghanistan.”

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring armed groups, a charge rejected by the country’s Taliban rulers. Militant attacks in Pakistan have increased since 2021, when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan sincerely believes that path forward lies in resolving this complex issue of Indian-sponsored terrorism emanating from Afghan soil through talks and control of non-state actors by Afghan authorities,” Tarar said.

He added that his country has all the rights to safeguard its territorial integrity and the lives of the people of Pakistan, adding that “we shall not allow terrorists operating from inside Afghanistan to live in peace.”

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