Pakistan's airstrikes on TTP camps in Afghanistan killed over 80 terrorists: Security sources

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Security sources on Sunday said that Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan destroyed seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps and killed over 80 terrorists.

Pakistan’s intelligence-based air strikes on Saturday night destroyed seven centers of Fitna Al-Khawarij in three provinces of Afghanistan including Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost, in which more than eighty Khawarij (TTP militants) have been confirmed killed, while the casualties are expected to rise further, security sources said.

The destroyed centers reportedly included, New Center No. 1 (Nangarhar), New Center No. 2 (Nangarhar), Molvi Abbas Center (Khost), Islam Center (Nangarhar), Ibrahim Center (Nangarhar), Mullah Rahbar Center (Paktika), and Mukhlis Yar Center (Paktika).

In an earlier statement, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that nearly 70 militants were killed after Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes on terrorist targets along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as part of a broader campaign to curb cross-border militancy.

The minister said that the operations targeted seven militant camps and hideouts across three different areas inside Afghanistan.

According to initial reports, around 70 militants were neutralised in the coordinated action.

He added that there was substantial evidence indicating that most of the slain militants were Pakistani nationals affiliated with banned outfits, including Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), its affiliates and Daesh-Khorasan.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed the strikes, describing them as “precise and accurate” and a retaliatory response to recent suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu.

Officials said that the attacks had been orchestrated by Afghanistan-based handlers and claimed by elements of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) with links to FAK and Daesh.

Sources said that the strikes targeted militant hideouts in the Barmal area of Paktika province, the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, as well as Ghani Khel, Behsud and Argoon areas along the border belt.

Talal Chaudhry said that the cross-border action was carried out in the same context as Pakistan’s ongoing internal counterterrorism operations.

He noted that security forces have conducted nearly 70,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the country, leading to numerous arrests and the elimination of militants.

“Afghanistan has long been exporting terrorism. Pakistan is taking all actions to secure the life and property of its citizens,” the minister said, stressing that the state would continue to act decisively against threats to national security.

He reiterated that Pakistan remains a responsible state that has consistently sought cordial relations with its neighbours.

He pointed out that Islamabad has hosted millions of Afghan refugees over the decades and extended economic assistance to Afghanistan, despite facing its own security and economic challenges.

However, Chaudhry accused Afghanistan’s interim government of failing to meet its commitments under the Doha Agreement, signed in 2020.

Under the accord, the Afghan Taliban had assured the international community that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against any country.

“Afghanistan and its interim government have failed to live up to their promise and have not stopped terrorism,” he said.

The minister added that Pakistan had made extensive diplomatic efforts in the past, including military-to-military engagements, to address security concerns with Kabul.

He also noted that concerns about militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan were not limited to Pakistan, claiming that the United Nations has reported the presence of more than two dozen militant outfits operating there.

Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan says cross-border militant attacks have increased since then and has accused the Taliban of failing to honor commitments under the 2020 Doha Agreement to prevent Afghan soil from being used for attacks against other countries. The Taliban deny allowing such activity and have previously rejected similar accusations.