Pakistan targets terror camps in Afghanistan, kills over 80 militants

Pakistani forces conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan on February 22, killing “more than 80 terrorists,” according to security sources, in retaliation for recent suicide attacks in Pakistan.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the strikes targeted seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban of FAK and its affiliates, as well as ISKP, at the border region of Pakistan-Afghanistan with precision and accuracy.

The term Fitna al Khawarij is used by Pakistani authorities to refer to militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“Last night, Pakistan’s intelligence-based airstrikes destroyed seven centres of Fitna al-Khawarij TTP in three provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost, in which more than eighty Khawarij have been confirmed killed, while more are expected,” security sources added.

The targeted facilities included New Centre No. 1 and New Centre No. 2 in Nangarhar, Khwariji Maulvi Abbas Centre in Khost, Khwariji Islam Centre and Khwariji Ibrahim Centre in Nangarhar, and Khwariji Mullah Rahbar and Khwariji Mukhlis Yar in Paktika.

“Pakistan has conclusive evidence that these acts of terrorism were perpetrated by Khwarij on the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers. Responsibilities for these attacks were also claimed by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban belonging to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK) and their affiliates, and Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP),” the ministry said.

The ministry emphasised Pakistan has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region, but at the same time, the safety and security of its citizens remains the top priority, describing the strikes on the seven camps as a retributive response based on intelligence-based selective targeting.

Following this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry posted on X that the Pakistan Air Force strikes were “retribution for innocent lives lost to terrorism,” calling them “an answer to the tears of every mother who has sacrificed her son for the homeland.”

“Whoever looks at us with evil intent, we will destroy them, and no one will be spared,” the minister warned.

By Jeyhun Aghazada