Pakistan’s federal government announced that about 415 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and more than 580 injured so far in its ongoing military operation against Taliban forces, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on Sunday. He said the offensive, named “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq”, was launched in response to what Islamabad described as “unprovoked aggression” and cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier.
Tarar said Pakistani forces had destroyed 182 Taliban checkposts and captured 31 positions, inflicting heavy losses on militant infrastructure. Pakistani aircraft and artillery also struck 46 locations inside Afghanistan, targeting Taliban bases and military equipment, he added in an official statement posted on social media.
The minister claimed that the offensive had also destroyed Taliban tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns, demonstrating Islamabad’s determination to “neutralise threats” along its western border. He described the operation as ongoing, with Pakistani troops advancing on multiple fronts to secure strategic areas.
The escalation follows several days of intense clashes and retaliatory attacks between Pakistani forces and the Taliban, which now controls Afghanistan. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban administration of harbouring militants responsible for attacks on Pakistani security installations and border regions — allegations Kabul denies.
The deteriorating security situation has also involved airstrikes and cross-border artillery exchanges, prompting global concern over a broader regional conflict. According to reports, Pakistan’s offensive reached deeper into Afghan territory, marking one of the most serious flare-ups between the two neighbours in years.
The Afghan Taliban government has not yet independently verified Pakistan’s casualty figures or provided its own assessment of the operation’s impact. Observers note that casualty numbers in such conflicts are often difficult to confirm and can vary widely between official statements from both sides.
The conflict has raised tensions not only along the 2,600-km Pakistan-Afghanistan border but also among regional powers and neighbouring countries, which are calling for restraint and a return to dialogue to prevent further escalation.
As the operation continues, Islamabad insists its actions are aimed at protecting national security and eradicating militant threats, while critics warn that sustained military engagement could prolong instability in the region.
