67 Taliban terrorists killed in Balochistan, K-P as Operation Ghazab Lil Haq intensifies
Photo: Express News
At least 67 Taliban terrorists were killed in separate operations in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Tuesday, while one soldier of the Balochistan Frontier Corps (FC) was martyred during ongoing counterterrorism operations, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
'Operation Ghazab Lil Haq' was launched late on Thursday after renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, when Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation. According to an earlier statement, Pakistani security forces killed 435 Afghan Taliban combatants and destroyed 188 tanks and vehicles during the operation. More than 630 Afghan operatives were injured, 188 tanks and armoured vehicles were destroyed, 31 Afghan posts were captured, and 51 locations across Afghanistan were successfully targeted in air strikes.
In a post on X today, the minister said security forces were continuing operations under “Operation Ghazb Lil Haq,” responding to coordinated attacks launched by terrorists in multiple districts.
Special Update 1000 hours 3 March: Operation Ghazb lil Haq
In Balochistan:
▪️Afghan Taliban resorted to physical attack on 16 locations in Northern Balochistan in Qilla Saifullah, Noshki and Chaman Districts while engaging our troops on 25 locations in fire raid.
▪️The…According to Tarar, terrorists carried out 16 physical attacks in Balochistan’s Qilla Saifullah, Noshki and Chaman districts, all of which were effectively repulsed by security forces. Troops also faced fire raids at 25 additional locations, which were successfully thwarted.
"One soldier of FC Balochistan North gave the ultimate sacrifice while defending the motherland, while five soldiers are injured," the minister said.
Read: Op Ghazab Lil Haq to continue until Taliban halt support for terrorists: state media
He added that security forces killed 27 Taliban terrorists during operations in Balochistan.
Meanwhile, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, security forces repelled another series of attacks overnight. Tarar said a physical attack was attempted at one location, while fire raids were conducted at 12 separate sites.
"Physical attack was attempted at one place while fire raid was conducted on 12 locations which were all repulsed without any loss of life," he wrote.
The minister added that 40 Afghan Taliban terrorists were killed during overnight operations in the province.
The operations come amid an intensified nationwide campaign against terrorist groups targeting security forces and border districts, particularly in areas adjoining Afghanistan.
Earlier today, AFP journalists in Kabul heard multiple explosions and gunfire as Afghan and Pakistani troops continued border clashes. Blasts echoed across the capital alongside anti-aircraft fire, while Afghanistan’s defence ministry said fighting with Pakistani forces was ongoing.
At the nearest border crossing, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Jalalabad, residents in Torkham told AFP the days-long fighting was continuing.
The neighbours have clashed along the frontier since Thursday, when Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes.
Islamabad said its February air strikes that sparked the escalation were targeting terrorists. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against terrorist groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government rejects.
The border fighting has hit multiple Afghan provinces. The violence of recent days is the worst since the October fighting killed more than 70 people on both sides, with land borders between the neighbours largely shut since.