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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected statements by Afghan Taliban authorities regarding civilian casualties from its cross-border military campaign, reiterating that its operations are directed against terrorist infrastructure. In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting&rsquo;s fact-checking unit said Pakistan&rsquo;s actions have been &ldquo;precise&rdquo; and focused on security objectives. &ldquo;It is well established that Pakistan has only undertaken precise targeting of Fitna al Khawarij and Afghan Taliban terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan,&rdquo; the ministry said. Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;Fitna al Khawarij&rdquo; to refer to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, drawing on a historical reference to an early extremist faction in Islamic history that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims as unbelievers. The clarification comes as Operation Ghazab lil Haq continues following weeks of cross-border tensions, with Islamabad stating that the campaign targets infrastructure used to support attacks inside Pakistan. The ministry said operational updates, including details of strikes and outcomes, have been shared regularly. &ldquo;Air strikes, destruction and capture of posts&hellip; are updated regularly with even clips of the strikes for all to see,&rdquo; the statement said. It added that Pakistan&rsquo;s approach remains focused on countering terrorism while avoiding civilian harm. The ministry also referred to recent security incidents inside Pakistan. &ldquo;The whole world is witness to the terrorist attacks&hellip; including the recent attack in Domail, Bannu where civilians, including women and children, were martyred,&rdquo; the statement said. It further stated that Afghan nationals had been involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan, adding that related evidence had been presented at official forums, including the Balochistan home minister&rsquo;s conference. The ministry said statements and content circulated by Afghan Taliban-linked sources should be viewed with caution. It noted that certain spokespersons and affiliated outlets were &ldquo;well known to regularly post fake, old&hellip; propaganda videos and assertions,&rdquo; highlighting what it described as a pattern of contested narratives during the conflict. The development comes as Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement alongside its security operations. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Islamabad remains committed to dialogue but expects tangible steps on the ground. &ldquo;The burden of real process&hellip; lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using its soil against Pakistan,&rdquo; Andrabi said. Pakistan maintains that its operations are based on verified intelligence and are aimed at addressing threats posed by terrorist groups, while supporting efforts toward dialogue and regional stability.

Foreign Affairs

 Pakistan’s information ministry says it is “well established that Pakistan has only undertaken precise targeting of Fitna al Khwarij and Afghan Taliban terrorist infrastructure”; Islamabad is participating in the dialogue process but expects concrete action from Afghan authorities.


Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban civilian casualty claims amid tensions

ISLAMABAD: At least four civilians were martyred in artillery fire from across the Afghanistan border in Pakistan&rsquo;s Bajaur district, while security forces separately killed five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the northwestern district of Lakki Marwat, officials said Sunday.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said Afghan Taliban positions fired mortar and artillery rounds toward a civilian area in the Salarzai region of Bajaur earlier in the day. &ldquo;Today on 15th of March 2026, around 1530 hours, the Afghan Taliban regime deliberately targeted the civilian population through artillery and mortar fire from across the border in Tabesta Letai, Salarzai area of Bajaur District,&rdquo; Tarar said in a statement posted on X.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px; height: 316px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033217853353345146&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4737%2F&sessionId=eee935c0debc328a727d0248144396cefff7c944&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to the minister, a house was struck during the attack, killing four civilians and seriously injuring a five-year-old child.&nbsp;&ldquo;The four martyrs Sajid, Ayaz, Riaz and Muaz are real brothers,&rdquo; Tarar said, adding that local residents strongly condemned the incident.&nbsp;Tarar described the shelling as a serious violation of international law and said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces were responding to the positions responsible.&nbsp;&ldquo;A befitting and aggressive response is being given to the Afghan Taliban regime positions and infrastructure responsible for this dastardly act,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The incident occurred as Pakistan continues Operation Ghazab lil Haq, launched in late February following cross-border attacks that Islamabad says were carried out by terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.&nbsp;Operation against terrorists in Lakki MarwatIn a separate development, Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces killed five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat, according to the military&rsquo;s media wing.&nbsp;The Inter-Services Public Relations said the operation was conducted after receiving intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists linked to the group described by authorities as Fitna al-Khawarij.&nbsp;&ldquo;Security forces effectively engaged the terrorist hideout, triggering an intense exchange of fire in which five terrorists were killed,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, the military added, noting that the slain terrorists had been involved in multiple attacks in the region.&nbsp;The ISPR said a sanitization operation was underway to ensure no other terrorists remained in the area.&nbsp;&ldquo;Security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue operations to eliminate terrorism from the country,&rdquo; the military said.&nbsp;Rising tensions along the western borderThe Bajaur attack and the Lakki Marwat operation come amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in recent weeks.&nbsp;Pakistani officials say their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/over-680-afghan-taliban-terrorists-killed-in-ongoing-operation-ghazab-lil-haq" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">military campaign</a>&nbsp;is aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and networks used to launch cross-border attacks against civilians and security forces.&nbsp;Authorities maintain that the operations are based on verified intelligence and are focused on terrorist hideouts, logistical hubs and support infrastructure used by groups operating from Afghan territory.

Residents offer funeral prayers for children killed in cross-border fighting in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on March 15, 2026 amid the ongoing clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Security

Pakistan says four civilians were killed and a child injured in cross-border shelling in Bajaur, while security forces separately carried out an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat, killing five terrorists and recovering weapons and ammunition.

Afghan shelling martyrs civilians in Bajaur; Pakistan forces target terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces have killed 641 Afghan Taliban and injured more than 855 others during the ongoing operation under Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday.&nbsp;In a summary of the operation posted on X, Tarar stated that the ongoing strikes destroyed 243 checkposts and 219 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery guns, while Pakistani forces captured an additional 42 posts.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 448px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2031687512868159638&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=806456770eaa8607502a2db10f612103c065f96a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>According to the minister, 65 terrorist hideouts and supporting locations in Afghanistan were effectively targeted in air operations during the campaign.&nbsp;Earlier on Tuesday, &nbsp;Tarar clarified that Pakistan is <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/527-afghan-taliban-killed-in-crossborder-strikes-under-operation-ghazb-lil-haq-pakistan-minister" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">targeting</a> terrorist hideouts, not civilian areas, in Afghanistan during the ongoing operation. &nbsp;The information minister said operations are based on accurate intelligence information. &nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan is targeting only the infrastructure of terrorists and their support networks,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarar denied reports from the Afghan Taliban regime and the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan alleging civilian casualties. He said the UN agency in Kabul relies entirely on information provided by the Taliban government. He also dismissed the figures presented by Afghanistan&#39;s interim government, saying the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-debunks-fabricated-afghan-reports-of-strikes-on-nur-khan-airbase" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">claims of battlefield victories</a> against Pakistan are &ldquo;incorrect and merely propaganda.&rdquo;

Information Minister says the ongoing strikes destroyed 243 checkposts and 219 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery guns, while Pakistani forces captured an additional 42 posts.

Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq: Pakistan’s cross-border offensive kills 641 Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory military campaign against Afghan Taliban positions has entered its eighth day, with Islamabad saying its forces have inflicted significant battlefield losses under Operation Ghazab lil Haq following repeated cross-border attacks. Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at least 527 Afghan Taliban combatants and affiliated terrorists have been killed and more than 755 injured since the operation began.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 471px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029879575329517624&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3156f2cf9157da1499123d1f99571ec10799d96d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Tarar said Pakistani forces had carried out sustained strikes on terrorist positions across Afghanistan as part of a coordinated military response. According to the latest operational update, 237 Taliban check posts have been destroyed, while 38 additional posts were captured and subsequently demolished by Pakistani forces. Tarar added that 205 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns belonging to Afghan Taliban forces were destroyed during the course of the operation. He also said 62 locations across Afghanistan were effectively targeted through air operations, describing the strikes as part of Pakistan&rsquo;s effort to dismantle infrastructure used to launch attacks across the border. Earlier, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described the operation as a &ldquo;measured and proportionate response&rdquo; to what Pakistan says were unprovoked attacks originating from Afghan territory. Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry has also defended the military action. During a weekly press briefing last week, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi characterized the engagement as an &ldquo;effective and forceful response&rdquo; aimed at safeguarding Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity. The fighting along the Afghanistan&ndash;Pakistan border has drawn international attention as hostilities intensify across the frontier region. Russia&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry also expressed concern over the escalation. In a statement on March 4, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow was &ldquo;concerned about the ongoing fighting along the Afghan-Pakistani border.&rdquo; She called on both countries &ldquo;to resolve their differences through dialogue based on mutual respect.&rdquo; Pakistani officials, however, maintain that the objective of Operation Ghazab lil Haq remains the neutralization of terrorist threats emanating from across the border and the protection of Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty and security.

As border fighting intensifies, Pakistani officials say Operation Ghazab lil Haq targets militant infrastructure inside Afghanistan following cross-border attacks, while foreign governments voice concern and urge both sides to avoid further military escalation.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict"

Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban civilian casualty claims amid tensions

Afghan shelling martyrs civilians in Bajaur; Pakistan forces target terrorists

Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq: Pakistan’s cross-border offensive kills 641 Afghan Taliban

527 Afghan Taliban combatants killed as Pakistan’s retaliatory operation enters eighth day