Pakistan launched cross-border strikes late Thursday night under Operation “Ghazab lil-Haq” in response to what it described as “unprovoked firing” by the Afghan Taliban across multiple sectors. The action followed alleged attacks on several Pakistani border posts, with senior ministers confirming that a large-scale counter-offensive was under way.Pakistan information minister Attaullah Tarar said at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 injured during the operation. Defence minister Khawaja Asif stated that the armed forces were delivering a strong response to what he termed aggression from the Afghan Taliban.Tarar said, “Afghan Taliban defence targets in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of further casualties.” He added that at least 27 posts of the Afghan Taliban regime were destroyed and nine others were captured.

What is Operation Ghazab lil-Haq?

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq is Pakistan’s retaliatory military campaign launched in response to the alleged cross-border attacks. It translates to “Righteous Fury.”According to officials, the operation targeted key military installations and defence positions of the Afghan Taliban.Tarar said the strikes destroyed two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, and more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and armoured personnel vehicles.State broadcaster PTV News reported that the Pakistan Air Force targeted important Taliban military installations in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. In response, Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defence said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line, the 2,611-kilometre border between the two countries that has never been officially recognised by Afghanistan.In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8.00 pm on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier.“A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here,” the statement read.The ministry said Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.It further stated that the four-hour operation resulted in the destruction of two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four other posts. The ministry also claimed that an enemy tank was destroyed and a large military transport vehicle was captured.