Major cross-border operation launched as 29 militants killed along Afghan border: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Ata Tarar said on Monday that Pakistan’s security forces had carried out a major operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing 29 militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the Pakistani state refers to as Fitna al Khawarij, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

In a statement posted on X, Tarar said security forces conducted an intelligence-based ground operation in Bajaur in which Jamaat-ul-Ahrar’s “high-value commander”, Khan Forosh alias Zabal, was killed along with three other militants. He added that several other militants were injured during the operation.

The information minister said the military also carried out air strikes under Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq in border areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, claiming that three major militant hideouts and operational centres in Afghanistan’s Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces were completely destroyed.

According to Tarar, the targeted overnight strikes killed 25 militants and destroyed large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at the militant bases.

He said the operation was conducted in response to recent attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and on a Rangers camp in Karachi.

“National security and the protection of our citizens remain our foremost priority. Our efforts for peace should not be mistaken for weakness,” Tarar said.

He added that nationwide counterterrorism operations would continue “with full force” under the federal apex committee’s Azm-i-Istehkam vision.