Pakistan strikes terrorist hideouts at two Afghan locations

Pakistan carried out targeted air strikes against terrorist hideouts at two locations in Afghanistan, the government said on Thursday, describing the operation as a precise and intelligence-based action.

The Information Ministry said the strikes were conducted as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq and targeted what it described as hideouts and safe havens of Fitna al Khawarij, Fitna al Hindustan and their affiliated groups. It said several militants were killed in the operation.

According to initial reports cited by the ministry, 22 terrorists were killed. The strikes also destroyed weapons and ammunition stored at the targeted locations.

The ministry said the operation was based on credible intelligence and that security forces took precautions to avoid civilian casualties. It maintained that Pakistan’s primary concern was the protection of its citizens while reiterating its stated commitment to regional peace and stability.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused militant groups based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan and has called on the Afghan Taliban authorities to take action against militant sanctuaries.

A United Nations Security Council-mandated monitoring report covering December 2025 to June 2026 said continued support for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had contributed to an increase in the frequency and severity of militant attacks in Pakistan. The report also highlighted operational links between the TTP, Al Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan and the Balochistan Liberation Army.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have witnessed growing tensions over cross-border militancy in recent months. Islamabad conducted similar air strikes against militant targets in Afghanistan on September 21 after major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The tensions further escalated after Pakistan reported that drones launched from across the border entered its airspace near Torkham and Kohat. Pakistan subsequently carried out aerial and drone strikes at multiple locations in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office also summoned Afghan representatives and delivered a demarche over the reported airspace violation.