Pakistan retaliates befittingly after unprovoked Afghan aggression: information minister

ISLAMABAD:  Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar has said that the Afghan Taliban carried out an unprovoked act of aggression, which Pakistan responded to with utmost readiness and strength.

Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, the minister said Pakistan’s armed forces demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and expertise in defending the motherland under challenging circumstances.

He stated that the response by Pakistan’s armed forces overwhelmed the Afghan Taliban, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. According to the minister, the coordinated and forceful retaliation compelled the Afghan Taliban to resort to spreading fake news on social media.

Tarar added that an international news channel also disseminated what he described as fake news from the Afghan Taliban, but later had to delete its tweet.

Providing details of the counter-operation, the minister said 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed, more than 200 were injured, 27 posts were destroyed, and nine posts were taken over by Pakistani forces.

The Pakistan Air Force targeted Afghan Taliban defensive installations in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia, the minister said.

He further stated that two Corps Headquarters, three Brigade Headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters and 80+ tanks, artillery, APCs were destroyed.

Tarar said Pakistan’s armed forces have once again demonstrated that any aggression or malicious intent against the country will be dealt with firmly.

He said the Pakistani nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces and that the forces have made the nation proud.

The minister also said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif praised the timely and courageous response of the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

Reiterating Pakistan’s position, Tarar said it is unacceptable for Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. He added that terrorists trained on Afghan soil carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistan has once again made it clear that any such actions or unprovoked aggression will be met with a strong response, the minister said.