Operation Ghazab lil-Haq: Military Campaign Claims Hundreds of Lives
Pakistan’s military campaign, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, has resulted in the deaths of 796 Afghan Taliban operatives and the destruction of 286 posts, according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. The operation, launched in response to escalating cross-border attacks, has also left over 1,043 regime personnel and terrorists injured. Tarar detailed the losses in a social media post, stating that 44 Taliban posts had been captured and 249 military assets, including tanks, armored vehicles, artillery guns, and drones, were destroyed by Pakistani security forces.
Civilian Casualties Mount Amid Border Shelling
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians. In the latest incident, two women were among three civilians injured after Afghan Taliban forces opened fire on the Zlol Khel area of Angoor Adda in South Waziristan. Security sources described the attack as unprovoked, occurring after Pakistani troops foiled an infiltration attempt by Fitna al-Khawarij militants. In response, Pakistani forces carried out retaliatory action, destroying multiple Afghan posts.
Earlier, three members of a family, including two children, were martyred in cross-border shelling in Bajaur’s Katkot border area. Security sources reported that the Afghan Taliban targeted civilian areas in Malik Shaheen village after a failed infiltration attempt was thwarted by Pakistani forces. Three others were seriously injured in the attack, which sources attributed to “frustration after defeat.”
Military Vows to Continue Operations
The army’s top brass has pledged to continue Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq until terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan are eliminated. During the 274th Corps Commanders’ Conference, presided over by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the military reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all terrorist proxies operating on behalf of India and other external sponsors. The statement emphasized that operations would be conducted “relentlessly and without exception” against facilitators and abettors of terrorism.
China Mediates Peace Talks
Amid the escalating violence, China has stepped in as a mediator, hosting peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwestern city of Urumqi. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that both countries agreed to explore a comprehensive solution to the conflict and committed to avoiding actions that would escalate tensions. Pakistan sent a delegation led by senior government officials, including Foreign Ministry Additional Secretary, to participate in the discussions.
China has been actively mediating since March, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi holding calls with his counterparts from both nations. Mao Ning stated that both Pakistan and Afghanistan “attach importance to and welcome China’s mediation,” adding that the talks represent a positive development.
Border Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts
The conflict has also seen renewed diplomatic activity. Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed the delegation’s travel to Urumqi, while the information ministry dismissed claims by the Afghan Taliban regime regarding the removal of barbed wire along the Pak-Afghan border as “fabricated and devoid of facts.” Meanwhile, the repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals resumed at the Torkham border crossing, with 11 individuals transferred to the Hamza Baba Transit Camp and over 150 Afghan prisoners undergoing documentation and legal processing.
Regional Implications
As the conflict continues, the international community watches closely. The talks in China offer a glimmer of hope for de-escalation, but the military’s steadfast commitment to eliminating terrorist safe havens suggests that Operation Ghazab lil-Haq will persist. With civilian casualties mounting and cross-border tensions high, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
