Pakistan Conducts Air Strikes on Terrorist Hideouts in Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed on Monday the execution of air strikes against terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan. The operation, conducted based on classified intelligence, specifically targeted the hideouts of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the notorious Hafiz Gul Bahadur group.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s air operations were meticulously planned to eradicate terrorist elements responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistani territory, resulting in the loss of civilian and law enforcement lives.

The recent assault on a security post in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, which claimed the lives of seven Pakistani soldiers on March 16, 2024, served as a catalyst for the operation.Expressing deep concerns over the presence of terrorist outfits, including the TTP,  within Afghanistan, Pakistan has consistently urged Afghan authorities to take decisive action against these groups.

The use of Afghan soil as a base for terrorist activities against Pakistan has long been a critical issue for Pakistani authorities, who stress the necessity of mutual cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

While reaffirming its respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Pakistan has called on the interim Afghan government to deny safe havens to the TTP and hand over its leadership to Pakistan. Pakistan underscores the importance of dialogue and cooperation in addressing the common threat posed by terrorist organizations.

Highlighting Pakistan’s historic support for the people of Afghanistan, the Foreign Office condemned elements within the Afghan power structure for supporting the TTP and using them as proxies against Pakistan.

Such actions, Pakistan asserts, undermine the longstanding fraternal relations between the two nations and disregard Pakistan’s contributions to Afghanistan’s stability and development over the years