Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ against the Afghan Taliban is producing the desired results and continues successfully.
He said forces have effectively repulsed Taliban insurgents at 53 locations along the border, inflicting heavy losses while exercising restraint to avoid civilian harm.
“So far, 274 Taliban insurgents have been killed and over 400 injured,” he said, adding that 73 posts along the border have been destroyed and 18 are now in Pakistani hands. He also said 115 tanks used by insurgents were destroyed during the engagements.
Clashes occurred at 22 locations across Kandahar, Kabul, Paktia and other areas, targeting terrorist infrastructure, including logistics bases and shelters. No civilian damage was caused, he said, and great care was taken to avoid harm to civilians.
He acknowledged Pakistan had also suffered casualties: 12 soldiers were martyred, 27 wounded and one is missing in action. The military spokesperson warned Pakistan would respond decisively to any aggression and criticised the Afghan Taliban for hostile rhetoric.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan would hold the Afghan Taliban regime accountable for any attack originating from Afghan soil. “If there is any attack inside Pakistan, we will go after the Afghan Taliban,” he stated. He emphasised that the Afghan Taliban must make a clear and decisive choice.
“The oppressive Afghan Taliban regime has to make a clear choice between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Islamic State (Daesh), Al-Qaeda — these terrorist organisations — and Pakistan,” he said. “This is not something new I am saying. The Pakistani government has conveyed this position many times before,” he added.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s national resolve, he added: “We are absolutely clear — Pakistan will always come above everything else.” “We have never hesitated to sacrifice for Pakistan, and we will always remain ready to make any sacrifice,” DG ISPR stated.