Security forces kill 29 terrorists in ground ops, air strikes along Pak-Afghan border: Info minister

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said on Sunday night that Pakistan’s security forces had carried out a “well planned intelligence based ground operation” along the Pakistan-Afghan border followed by calibrated strikes in the border region against the hideouts and safe havens of terrorists belonging to Jamaatul Ahrar and Fitna al Khawarij, killing twenty-nine khawarij”.

Fitna al Khwarij is the term used by the state to designate members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The kinetic action, the minister said, came in the wake of “recent multiple terrorist incidents inside Pakistan against the innocent people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Balochistan and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp, Karachi.”

On Saturday night, terrorists attacked a local headquarter of the Pakistan Rangers Sindh in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area, during which three security personnel were martyred, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The ISPR said in a statement that the attack was carried out by terrorists “belonging to Indian proxy, Jamaatul Ahrar”, adding that three terrorists were killed in retaliatory action while one was arrested.

Later, security sources said the arrested terrorist had identified himself as Usman Ali and revealed that he had come to Pakistan from Jalalabad in Afghanistan around a week ago.

In a post on X, the information minister said that “on 28 June 2026, security forces conducted an intelligence-based ground operation against a group of terrorists near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a result of precise and skillful engagement, high-value khawarji Commander Khan Farosh aka Zabal, along with 3 terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Jamaat ul Ahrar were sent to hell while several others got injured”.

Tarar said that in continuation of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, “precise targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al khwarij have also been carried out on night 28/29 June, in border region of Pakistan-Afghanistan border”.

He added that three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during the precision strikes in which 25 terrorists were killed while large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these hideouts were also destroyed.

“Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time shall not compromise on the safety and security of our citizens, which remains our top priority,” said Tarar.

“Our relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision “Azm e Istehkam” (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) 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,” he added.

Earlier this month, Pakistan had carried out similar strikes on terrorist hideouts along its border with Afghanistan and killed 26 terrorists. At the time, Tarar had said that “precise and calibrated strikes were carried out along Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas on hideouts and safe havens of masterminds and planners belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij, killing 26 India-sponsored khawarij.”

Recent Pak-Afghan ties

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.

From March 18 to 23, Pakistan observed a five-day temporary pause in the operation on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, with the FO later saying it would continue “until its objectives are achieved”.

De-escalation requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye were part of the reasons behind the pauses announced by both sides, according to their respective statements.

In early March, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had said that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan could only prevail if the Taliban regime “renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations”.

Meanwhile, China has been mediating between the two sides. After hosting their first meeting in Urumqi, Xinjiang, in April — aimed at bringing an end to the Islamabad-Kabul animosity — Beijing intends to hold a second meeting to keep the process on track, according to people familiar with discussions. ...