Pakistan’s security forces carried out an intelligence-based ground operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Sunday, followed by “calibrated strikes” on terrorist hideouts, killing 29 fighters, officials said.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on social media platform X/Twitter the action was launched in response to multiple terrorist attacks across the country.
Four fighters linked to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar were killed in the ground attacks, Tarar said. The group is a faction of the Pakistani Taliban.
Tarar also said that, in addition to the 29 terrorist who had been killed, weapons and ammunition stored in their hideouts had been destroyed.
“Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time shall not compromise on the safety and security of our citizens, which remains our top priority,” Tarar stated.
Dozens were killed and injured in the air strikes by Pakistan, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a post on X/Twitter.
“The attacks resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians, including women and children. We strongly condemn this cowardly act of aggression and consider it a crime and an act of brutality,” Zabiullah said.
This retaliation came a day after a bomb and gun attack on a Sindh Rangers facility in Karachi killed three paramilitary troops and injured four on Saturday, according to Pakistan’s military.
Terrorists from the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, detonated an explosive at the entrance of the Rangers camp in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar neighborhood before opening fire on the troops, the military said in a statement.
