Pakistan Conducts Strikes on Terrorist Bases in Afghanistan's Kandahar
Pakistan's Military Action in Afghanistan
On Sunday, Pakistan announced that its military executed strikes targeting what it identified as terrorist hideouts and military facilities in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. These operations occurred during the night of March 14-15 and were part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, initiated on February 26 in response to assaults by Afghan Taliban forces along the extensive 2,600-km border shared by the two nations.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the military actions via social media, sharing video evidence of the strikes. He stated, "On the night of March 14/15, the Pakistan Armed Forces targeted military facilities, including the hideouts of Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij," referring to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to Tarar, the strikes successfully dismantled facilities allegedly utilized for launching attacks against Pakistan. He emphasized that the operations destroyed technical support infrastructure and storage facilities in Kandahar that were being exploited by the Afghan Taliban and other terrorists against innocent Pakistani civilians. He asserted that the footage released demonstrated precise targeting of these installations and camps.
"No civilian infrastructure or population was harmed, contrary to claims made by officials and media from the Afghan regime," he added.
Tarar reported that since the operation commenced, approximately 684 Afghan Taliban members have been killed, with over 912 sustaining injuries. He noted that 252 military posts were destroyed, while an additional 44 were captured and demolished. Furthermore, 229 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces were eliminated during these operations.
Pakistani forces also conducted aerial strikes on 73 locations associated with terrorists and their support systems throughout Afghanistan. Additionally, a ground operation led to the destruction of a 'terrorist jump-off point' at Afghanistan's Badini Post.
These recent strikes followed an incident where Pakistan claimed to have shot down drones launched by the Afghan Taliban, with debris from these drones reportedly injuring four individuals, including two children.