State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said Pakistan has neutralised nearly 70 militants following intelligence-based strikes targeting terrorist hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, carried out in response to recent suicide attacks inside the country.
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Speaking on Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan,” the minister said the operations were aimed at safeguarding the lives and property of Pakistani citizens. According to the government, the strikes targeted seven camps and hideouts linked to Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), its affiliates and the Daesh-Khorasan group.
Chaudhry said security forces had so far conducted around 70,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) nationwide, leading to multiple arrests and the elimination of militant networks. He added that evidence suggested many of the militants killed during the latest strikes were Pakistani nationals.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed the cross-border action earlier, describing the strikes as precise and retaliatory measures following recent suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu. Officials said the attacks had been orchestrated by Afghanistan-based handlers and claimed by elements linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to sources, the operations targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan’s Paktika and Nangarhar provinces, including areas such as Barmal, Khogyani, Ghani Khel, Behsud and Argoon.
Chaudhry said Pakistan had made extensive diplomatic efforts and military-level engagements in the past but alleged that Afghan authorities had failed to prevent their territory from being used for cross-border terrorism, despite commitments made during the 2020 Doha agreement.
He emphasised that Pakistan remained committed to maintaining peaceful relations with neighbouring countries while ensuring national security. The minister also urged political parties to maintain unity in the fight against terrorism, stating that all stakeholders must support security forces in safeguarding the country.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have risen following a surge in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban returned to power. Pakistan has repeatedly called on Afghan authorities to act against militant groups operating from their soil.
