ISLAMABAD, September 24 — Pakistan said on Thursday that precision aerial and drone strikes had destroyed militant hideouts, support infrastructure and drone launch and storage facilities across 10 locations in Afghanistan, as tensions between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban authorities escalated following a cross-border drone incident.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, sharing an update on Operation Ghazab lil Haq, said the facilities targeted in the strikes were linked to attacks inside Pakistan and to the attempted drone intrusion from Afghan territory on September 23.
Tarar released footage that he said showed the precision strikes hitting the targeted infrastructure.
“Through precise aerial and drone strikes as seen in attached clip, terrorist hideouts and support infrastructure including drone launching and storage sites across 10 locations in areas under the control of Afghan Taliban regime were comprehensively destroyed,” the minister said in a post on X.
According to Tarar, the targeted facilities were associated with attacks against civilians inside Pakistan as well as the recent attempted drone incursion.
Pakistan had earlier said its air defence systems detected, tracked and neutralised drones entering from Afghan territory before they could reach their intended targets.
Tarar said Pakistan subsequently carried out precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan that Islamabad identified as sites used for launching and storing drones.
He described the strikes as deliberate, calibrated and limited to identified military objectives linked to attempted attacks against Pakistan.
Independent reporting by Reuters confirmed Pakistan’s announcement that it had struck 10 locations in Afghanistan. Afghan authorities, however, said four civilians were killed in the Pakistani strikes.
Pakistan Links Targets to Militant Attacks
In the latest update, Tarar expanded on the nature of the targets, saying they included militant hideouts and support infrastructure in addition to drone launch and storage facilities.
The information minister said the sites were linked to attacks inside Pakistan against civilians, presenting their destruction as part of Pakistan’s response to threats originating from Afghan territory.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of allowing militant groups targeting Pakistan to operate from Afghan soil. Kabul has disputed Pakistan’s allegations and has maintained that Pakistan’s security problems are an internal matter.
The latest strikes come amid a sharp deterioration in relations between the neighbouring countries, with cross-border militancy and the alleged presence of armed groups in Afghanistan remaining major sources of tension.
Pakistan Vows to Defend Territorial Integrity
Tarar said Pakistan would continue to defend its territorial integrity and protect the lives and property of its citizens against threats that Islamabad says are externally sponsored, sheltered or supported.
In his earlier statement, the minister said Pakistan did not seek escalation and remained committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement, but warned that further violations of the country’s sovereignty would draw a firm response.
Pakistan has called on the Afghan Taliban authorities to halt hostile activity and take what Islamabad describes as effective, verifiable and sustained action against militant organisations operating from Afghan territory.
The latest Ghazab lil Haq update signals that Islamabad is presenting the strikes not only as retaliation for the September 23 drone incident but also as action against infrastructure it says has supported militant attacks inside Pakistan.