Pakistan conducted “well-planned and calibrated” aerial strikes on terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, killing multiple militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, the Ministry of Information said on Thursday.
The strikes were carried out as part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq and Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorists, their networks and supporters, the ministry said in a statement.
It said the strikes were based on credible intelligence and targeted terrorist camps and hideouts at two locations belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan and their affiliates.
“Targets were destroyed with precision,” the ministry said, adding that initial reports suggested 22 terrorists had been killed.
Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at the hideouts were also destroyed, according to the statement.
“Pakistan has always strived for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. However, the safety and security of our citizens remains our foremost priority,” the ministry said.
It expressed concern that Afghanistan continued to remain a hub of terrorism, adding that the threat to Pakistan emanated from Afghanistan.
“In this context, our action precisely targeted the terrorist hubs,” the ministry said, adding that maximum precautions were taken to ensure there was no collateral damage.
The ministry said the country’s counterterrorism campaign, Ghazab lil-Haq, being conducted under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam by the security forces and law enforcement agencies, would continue at full pace.
It said the campaign would continue to “wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism” from the country.
The latest strikes come a week after Pakistan carried out precision aerial and drone strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan in response to attempted drone attacks launched from Afghan territory.
On September 24, Tarar said that the strikes targeted locations used for launching and storing drones, describing the action as a “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate” response.
The development followed Pakistan’s interception of eight drones that entered its airspace from Afghanistan. Security sources said four drones were brought down near the Torkham border, while four others were shot down in mountainous areas near Kohat.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns with the Taliban regime over the use of Afghan territory for hostile operations and the presence of terrorist networks and sanctuaries there.
Separate counterterrorism operations
Separately, security forces killed six militants during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) against Fitna al-Hindustan in Balochistan’s Kachhi district, security sources said today.
The militants were successfully targeted using quadcopters in the Sani area of Kachhi district under Operation Radd-ul-Fitan 3, the sources said.
A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the militants, while a clearance operation was continued in the area to eliminate any remaining militants, they added.
In North Waziristan, security forces also conducted an IBO, destroying several militant hideouts and tunnels, according to security sources.
A large quantity of explosives was recovered during the operation, while explosive material found during a search operation was neutralised with the assistance of the bomb disposal squad (BDS).
Multiple militants were also reportedly killed during the operation, they added.
Cross-border militancy
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by militant organisations to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan maintains that the Afghan Taliban authorities have failed to take effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians, a position Kabul has disputed.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, months after the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025 following clashes along several border points.
Despite multiple rounds of talks, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to resolve their differences, with the issue of militant groups operating from Afghan soil remaining a major point of contention between the two sides.
