ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Pakistan conducted airstrikes on terrorist sites “in the border region with Afghanistan”, killing more than 28 terrorists, the information ministry said on Monday.
In a statement, the ministry stressed that the “calibrated” strikes were carried out “against the hideouts and safe havens of terrorist organisations responsible” for the recent multiple terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Based on credible intelligence, selective targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al Khawarij and its affiliates has also been carried out in the border region with Afghanistan with precision and accuracy,” the statement said.
It added: “Three targets were destroyed with precision, including a suicide bombers’ training markaz (centre), killing 28 terrorists alongside multiple suicide bombers.
“Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these marakiz (centres) and hideouts were also destroyed.”
The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Prior to the airstrikes, security forces conducted a “well-planned intelligence-based ground operation” on Sunday against a group of terrorists in KP’s Kohat and Hangu districts, the ministry said.
“As a result of precise and skilful engagement, nine khawarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij were sent to hell, while several were injured,” the statement added.
The ministry highlighted that Pakistan had “always strived for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region”.
“However, the safety and security of our citizens remains our foremost priority. It is a matter of grave concern that Afghanistan continues to remain a hub of terrorism,” it said, specifying that the “threat to Pakistan emanates from Afghanistan”.
“In this context, our action precisely targeted the terrorist hubs. Maximum precautions were taken, and it was ensured that no collateral damage occurs,” the ministry asserted.
The airstrikes come a few days after a major attack in the old Police Lines in KP’s Kohat claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 others. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation launched to clear the area.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar was in Kohat on Monday where he visited to the house of a police official martyred in the attack, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan.
Speaking to the media in Kohat, he said he had also visited the injured personnel at the Combined Military Hospital.
He added he was hopeful that terrorism would be eradicated from the country after meeting the heirs of the martyrs and ghazis.
“We will not rest until eradicate terrorism from its roots,” he asserted.
There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
On Sunday, two officers and four others were martyred while eight terrorists were eliminated during a fire exchange between a security forces convoy and armed combatants, the military’s media wing said.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.
According to a UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report — covering the period from Dec 16, 2025 to June 9, 2026 — Afghan Taliban’s continued support for TTP has contributed to a rise in the frequency and lethality of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, even as Kabul has taken some initial steps to rein in the group.
The report also pointed to growing operational and facilitation linkages among the TTP, Al Qaeda, Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIL-K) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
‘Ghazab lil Haq under vision Azm-i-Istehkam’
In its Monday statement, the information ministry reaffirmed that the “relentless counterterrorism campaign Ghazab lil Haq under vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and -supported terrorism from the country”.
On the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq against terrorist hideouts.
The last time Pakistan carried out strikes in the border region with Afghanistan was in late June, with the government saying they were in response to a wave of terrorist attacks, including one on a Rangers camp in Karachi.
According to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, 25 terrorists were killed in those strikes in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar.
Pakistan had also carried out similar strikes on terrorist hideouts along its border with Afghanistan earlier that month, killing 26 terrorists.
In July, security forces responded to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban at border posts in Kurram, security sources had said.
Earlier this month, the Foreign Office (FO) declared that meaningful progress in relations with Kabul would depend on the Taliban taking concrete and verifiable action against TTP and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
It maintained that while Islamabad welcomed China’s continuing engagement, the external facilitation could not substitute for action by Kabul against terrorist infrastructure.
Last week, responding to Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid’s remarks, the information ministry had stressed that Pakistan consistently pursued constructive engagement with the Afghan Taliban, but would not allow what it called the “pretence of dialogue” to shield those threatening its people.
In his remarks, Mujahid had said Kabul wanted dialogue with Islamabad, but had also warned of “retaliatory action” if Pakistan carried out military operations inside Afghanistan — a warning that the information ministry rejected.
