Pakistan on early Monday morning carried out precision strikes on hideouts of Hafiz Gul Bahadur group in Afghanistan. Twenty eight terrorists have been killed in the strike
According to Pakistani sources, the operation was conducted inside Afghanistan near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The targets were terrorist centres allegedly used to plan attacks in Pakistan and cross-border assaults.
Sources said 28 terrorists were killed and several others were injured during the operation. However, independent sources have not yet confirmed the final number of deaths and injuries.
Pakistan described the operation as intelligence-based and precision strikes. The stated objective was to target terrorist hideouts, training centres and elements allegedly using Afghan territory to carry out terrorism in Pakistan.
According to the Pakistani position, members of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and other banned militant organisations have continued cross-border attacks. The presence of militants in areas bordering Pakistan remains a security challenge.
Security reports have also previously mentioned the activities of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and its links to North Waziristan.
Pakistan has made it clear that operations against terrorism originating from Afghan territory will continue. Islamabad has also called on the Afghan government to take concrete and effective measures to prevent its territory from being used against Pakistan.
Pakistani officials say the state’s policy on counterterrorism remains clear. They maintain that cross-border terrorist networks will not be allowed to threaten Pakistan’s security.
The development comes amid rising security tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following recent terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On September 18, an attack near the police lines in Kohat further heightened security concerns. Pakistani officials had also indicated possible action against alleged terrorist sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan has previously said it has targeted terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan based on intelligence information. The Foreign Office has said in previous statements that targets are selected with extreme care and that operations focus on terrorists and their hideouts.
According to Pakistan’s position, Afghanistan must take concrete action against terrorist groups. Otherwise, Pakistan reserves the right to take measures to protect its territory and citizens.
