Pakistan says its security forces killed 29 fighters along Afghan border
✓Strikes come a day after fighters armed with guns and explosives killed three soldiers in Karachi.
Pakistan’s security forces have carried out a ground operation and air strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to deadly attacks, killing 29 fighters, officials have said.
In a post on social media, Pakistani Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar said the operation was launched in response to multiple attacks by armed groups across the country.
“Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes,” Tarar said on X, referring to three eastern Afghanistan provinces.
There was no immediate response from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years.
Authorities have blamed the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, and allied armed groups for most of the violence.
It comes a day after fighters armed with guns and explosives targeted the regional headquarters of the paramilitary Rangers in the southern port city of Karachi, killing three soldiers.
Security forces killed three attackers and arrested another assailant, whom the military identified as an Afghan national in wounded condition.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack in a statement on Saturday night.
Tarar said Pakistan’s latest operation along the Afghan border targeted hideouts and safe havens of the Pakistan Taliban.
The Pakistan Taliban are a separate armed group from the Afghan Taliban, although the two are allies.
The Afghan Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.
The latest operations are likely to further strain the already tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
Sunday’s cross-border strikes and ground operation came less than three weeks after Pakistan’s military launched air strikes on what it said were fighter group hideouts in Afghanistan.
They ended about a month of relative calm following what Islamabad had described as an “open war” between the neighbouring countries, despite international efforts to broker a lasting peace.
The escalation follows months of tit-for-tat military action between the countries.
Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting since February, when Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes after Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghan territory.
Multiple rounds of internationally mediated peace talks have failed to secure a lasting ceasefire.
China also hosted the two sides in April, and Beijing later said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed not to escalate their conflict and to explore a solution.
Since last year, Pakistan has carried out multiple strikes along the border and inside Afghanistan, targeting alleged hideouts of the Pakistan Taliban and other armed groups.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harbouring fighters who carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistan Taliban.
Kabul denies the accusations.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Pakistan's security forces carried out a ground operation and airstrikes along the Afghanistan border, resulting in 29 fighter deaths according to Pakistani officials. The action followed Saturday's attack in Karachi where armed fighters killed three soldiers stationed at a paramilitary Rangers facility. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that three locations in the Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar were targeted during precision strikes, aimed at hideouts of the Pakistan Taliban and allied armed groups. A Karachi attacker was identified as an Afghan national. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a Pakistan Taliban faction, claimed responsibility for the Karachi operation. This represents the latest incident in escalating cross-border military action: Pakistan has conducted multiple strikes since last year, while retaliatory Afghan strikes have occurred since February. Hundreds have been killed in the cycle of operations. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan's Taliban government of harboring Pakistan Taliban fighters; Kabul denies this. International mediation efforts and a Chinese-brokered agreement on non-escalation have not produced lasting results.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Strikes come a day after fighters armed with guns and explosives killed three soldiers in Karachi.
Pakistan’s security forces have carried out a ground operation and air strikes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to deadly attacks, killing 29 fighters, officials have said.
In a post on social media, Pakistani Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar said the operation was launched in response to multiple attacks by armed groups across the country.
“Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes,” Tarar said on X, referring to three eastern Afghanistan provinces.
There was no immediate response from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years.
Authorities have blamed the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, and allied armed groups for most of the violence.
It comes a day after fighters armed with guns and explosives targeted the regional headquarters of the paramilitary Rangers in the southern port city of Karachi, killing three soldiers.
Security forces killed three attackers and arrested another assailant, whom the military identified as an Afghan national in wounded condition.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack in a statement on Saturday night.
Tarar said Pakistan’s latest operation along the Afghan border targeted hideouts and safe havens of the Pakistan Taliban.
The Pakistan Taliban are a separate armed group from the Afghan Taliban, although the two are allies.
The Afghan Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.
The latest operations are likely to further strain the already tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
Sunday’s cross-border strikes and ground operation came less than three weeks after Pakistan’s military launched air strikes on what it said were fighter group hideouts in Afghanistan.
They ended about a month of relative calm following what Islamabad had described as an “open war” between the neighbouring countries, despite international efforts to broker a lasting peace.
The escalation follows months of tit-for-tat military action between the countries.
Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting since February, when Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes after Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghan territory.
Multiple rounds of internationally mediated peace talks have failed to secure a lasting ceasefire.
China also hosted the two sides in April, and Beijing later said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed not to escalate their conflict and to explore a solution.
Since last year, Pakistan has carried out multiple strikes along the border and inside Afghanistan, targeting alleged hideouts of the Pakistan Taliban and other armed groups.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harbouring fighters who carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistan Taliban.
Kabul denies the accusations.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Pakistan's security forces carried out ground operations and airstrikes along the Afghanistan border, killing 29 fighters according to officials The operation was launched in response to multiple attacks by armed groups across Pakistan Three targets in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces were destroyed during precision strikes Three soldiers were killed in a Karachi attack on Saturday; three attackers were killed and one arrested, identified as an Afghan national Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack Pakistan accuses Afghanistan's Taliban government of harboring Pakistan Taliban fighters Afghanistan denies harboring Pakistan Taliban fighters Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting since February Multiple rounds of internationally mediated peace talks have failed to secure a lasting ceasefire The latest operations are likely to further strain relations between Islamabad and Kabul
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Pakistan's military conducted ground operations and airstrikes along the Afghanistan border, killing 29 fighters according to officials
- The operation followed an attack in Karachi on Saturday where armed fighters killed three soldiers; Pakistan blamed the Pakistan Taliban and allied groups
- Pakistan stated three targets in eastern Afghan provinces were destroyed; Afghanistan has not responded
- Cross-border military escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified over months, with hundreds killed since February