Operation Ghazab lil-Haq Intensifies
Pakistan has launched a sustained military campaign, dubbed Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting Taliban and militant positions inside Afghanistan. The operation, which began in mid-March 2026, represents a significant escalation in cross-border tensions between the two nations.
Significant Casualties and Infrastructure Damage Reported
According to Pakistan’s Information Minister, the offensive has resulted in heavy losses for the Afghan Taliban. Official figures state that 663 Taliban fighters have been killed and over 887 injured in the strikes. The military claims to have targeted 70 terror support locations across Afghanistan through aerial bombardments.
Key infrastructure reportedly destroyed includes:
- Oil storage facilities at Kandahar airfield.
- The infrastructure of the Taliban’s 313 Corps in Kabul.
- A major technical equipment storage tunnel in Kandahar.
- Multiple militant camps in Paktia province, including the Tarawo and Sherinaw camps.
Pakistan Rejects Taliban Claims, Cites Civilian Targeting
Islamabad has firmly rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban’s defense ministry that its forces captured a Pakistani border post, labeling the assertion “false and fabricated.” In an official fact-check statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information accused the Taliban of disseminating propaganda to mask its losses.
The diplomatic rhetoric has also intensified. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned drone strikes launched from Afghan soil on Pakistani residential areas as crossing a “red line.” He warned that the “illegal and terrorist Taliban government” would face serious consequences for targeting civilians.
Security Developments and Counter-Drone Operations
On the ground, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that security forces successfully intercepted multiple “rudimentary drones” launched by the Afghan Taliban, preventing them from reaching their targets through “soft and hard kills.” However, falling debris from these interceptions caused injuries to two children in Quetta and civilians in Kohat and Rawalpindi.
Security forces also claimed to have thwarted an infiltration attempt by militants near North Waziristan. Officials stated that operations under Ghazab lil-Haq are ongoing and will continue “until the set objectives are achieved.”
Ongoing Tensions and Regional Implications
The operation underscores the deteriorating security relationship between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime. Pakistan accuses the interim government in Kabul of providing safe havens to terrorist groups that launch attacks across the border, a charge the Taliban denies. The sustained airstrikes inside Afghan territory mark one of the most direct and large-scale military responses by Pakistan in recent years, with potential implications for regional stability in South Asia.
