Pakistan on Thursday carried out air and drone strikes on 10 locations inside Afghanistan as part of an operation against a drone network, alleging that the sites were used to store drones and dispatch them across the border for attacks in Pakistan.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a statement on X that “the strikes were deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate and strictly limited to identified military objectives directly linked to the attempted attacks against Pakistan.”
Tarar added that Pakistan’s air defense systems had detected drones launched from Afghan territory on Wednesday and neutralized them before they could reach their intended targets.
Tarar said, “Pakistan will neither accept nor tolerate attacks launched from Afghan territory, whether by terrorist groups or by the Afghan Taliban regime itself. Any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty will be met with an immediate and decisive response.”
He emphasized, “Threats, denials or attempts to deflect responsibility by Afghan Taliban will neither alter the facts nor constrain Pakistan’s inherent right to defend its territory, its people and its national security.”
Pakistan does not seek escalation and remains committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement. This commitment must not be mistaken for weakness or an unlimited tolerance of hostile actions, he added.
He vowed that “any further provocative act by Afghan Taliban will be answered with a firm and resolute response”.
According to information obtained by The Media Line, Pakistan Air Force jets targeted Camp Gecko, which was reportedly being used as a hub by al-Qaida and the banned Baloch Liberation Army, as well as weapons depots.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for armed groups carrying out cross-border attacks, which have killed hundreds of security personnel and civilians. Kabul, however, denies the allegations.
On Monday, Pakistani fighter jets targeted locations in eastern Afghanistan that Islamabad described as militant hideouts.
Similarly, earlier this month, Pakistani security forces killed 15 gunmen who were attempting to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Security and regional affairs experts told The Media Line that the latest escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan threatens mediation efforts by China, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia aimed at achieving lasting peace between Kabul and Islamabad.
The Russian Embassy in Kabul also voiced concern and advocated settling disputes through dialogue, consistent with Moscow’s stated policy of restraint.
