Islamabad, In a decisive move against terrorism, Pakistan launched intelligence-based operations targeting militant strongholds within Afghanistan’s border areas today. The operation aimed at neutralizing members of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which, in collusion with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been implicated in numerous attacks on Pakistani soil.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the operations were a response to persistent threats from terrorist factions operating from Afghanistan, including the TTP, which recently orchestrated a deadly assault in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, claiming the lives of seven Pakistani soldiers. The Pakistani government has repeatedly voiced its concerns to the Afghan interim authorities regarding the sheltering of these terrorist entities, emphasizing the urgent need for concerted actions to prevent their cross-border incursions.

The Foreign Office highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing that the focus remains on collaborative dialogues and actions to combat the terrorist menace. However, it also criticized certain factions within the Afghan power structure for allegedly supporting the TTP, underscoring the detrimental impact of such actions on the historical fraternal ties between the two nations.

Pakistan’s diplomatic appeals to the Afghan government include demands for dismantling TTP safe havens and extraditing its leadership. The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s respect for the Afghan populace while condemning the purported short-sighted policies of some Afghan leaders, urging them to align against terrorism.

The Foreign Office clarified that entities like the TTP not only threaten bilateral relations but also regional stability, underscoring Pakistan’s readiness to engage in joint counterterrorism efforts to address this shared security challenge.