PM Sharif visits GHQ, hails armed forces’ response to Afghan Taliban attacks

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) to receive a detailed briefing from Pakistan’s military leadership on the ongoing situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The prime minister stressed the need for zero tolerance against the alliance of the Afghan Taliban regime and militant groups, calling their actions against Pakistan unacceptable.

He praised Pakistan’s security forces, led by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for being constantly prepared to protect the country.

Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself against any aggression and lauded the armed forces’ professional handling of recent cross-border attacks.

“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Armed Forces in defence of the homeland,” the prime minister said.

The visit comes after heavy cross-border firing between Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban, which followed Pakistan’s operation that killed 274 Taliban fighters and destroyed 115 tanks, armoured and artillery vehicles, along with 73 border posts.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the prime minister had been briefed on Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shortly before the media address.

“The purpose of the briefing was to inform the prime minister in detail about Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” Chaudhry said. He added that the strikes, carried out on the night of February 21–22, targeted militant hideouts along the border after Afghan Taliban forces opened fire at 53 locations in 15 sectors.

“Wherever attacks were launched from, Pakistan responded in a manner the world has seen,” Chaudhry said, accusing the Afghan Taliban regime of backing militants involved in attacks inside Pakistan.

The ISPR chief added that 18 Taliban posts are now under Pakistan’s control and more than 400 militants were wounded in the operation. Air strikes were carried out at 22 locations in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar and Khost, targeting positions linked to “Fitna al-Hindustan” and “Fitna al-Khawarij,” he said.

During the GHQ visit, Prime Minister Sharif emphasised zero tolerance for the alliance of the Afghan Taliban regime and militant groups targeting Pakistan. “Actions by the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan are unacceptable,” he said.

The prime minister praised the professional capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces in repelling cross-border attacks and reaffirmed that the country is fully prepared to defend itself against any aggression.

“Under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, our security forces are always ready to protect the nation. The entire country stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Armed Forces in defence of the homeland,” Sharif said.