The Pakistan Army has conducted more than 67,000 intelligence-based operations across the country this year, eliminating 1,873 terrorists, according to ISPR spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
Most of these operations were carried out in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the two provinces that also witnessed the highest number of terrorist incidents, totaling 4,729 this year.
Lt Gen Chaudhry highlighted that monitoring the long Afghan border remains a major challenge for Pakistani security forces. Limited resources, smuggling networks, repeated attacks on border posts, and attempts to illegally push vehicles across the border have compounded the difficulties.
He clarified that Pakistan’s issue is not with the Afghan people but with the behavior of the Taliban regime, which provides safe havens to TTP militants and treats them as “guests.”
The free movement of Afghan Taliban elements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has further worsened the security situation. Additionally, millions of non-duty-paid vehicles complicate law enforcement along the border.
The ISPR stressed that Pakistan does not target civilians, and any collateral impact is acknowledged transparently. “Security operations and uncontrolled trade cannot go hand in hand. Whenever Pakistan attacks someone, it announces it,” said Lt Gen Chaudhry.
He also emphasized that there is no distinction between good and bad Taliban, stating that all terrorists are treated equally under military operations.
The statement came shortly after Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of airstrikes in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika provinces. Reports circulating on Afghan social media claimed that Pakistan conducted strikes in these areas.
However, local sources reveal that these reported strikes are actually the result of internal fighting among Taliban factions and extremist groups.
Clashes erupted in Mughalgai, Bermal, and Margha districts, involving heavy weapons and resulting in significant casualties. Several key commanders, including Sajna Mehsud, Khawra Mehsud, Noorullah, and Azmat Lala, were reportedly killed, along with members of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and other Taliban factions.
“The Taliban government should make decisions as a state, not as non-state actors,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said, questioning the interim nature of the current Afghan leadership.
Pakistan has repeatedly demanded that the Afghan rulers take action to stop cross-border terrorism. Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban authorities continue to deny allegations that terrorists are using Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
Recent attacks in Pakistan, including the cadet college Wana attack and the Islamabad Judicial Complex suicide attack, were reportedly carried out by Afghan nationals, highlighting the ongoing cross-border threat.
