ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s armed forces carried out targeted strikes on seven militant camps and hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to a string of recent suicide bombings, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced early Sunday.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the ministry of information said the action targeted facilities linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the state refers to as Fitna al Khawarij (FAK), and its affiliates, as well as the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP).
The statement said the strikes came “in the aftermath of recent suicide bombing incidents in Pakistan,” including an attack at an Imam Bargah in Islamabad, incidents in Bajaur and Bannu, and another attack in Bannu during the holy month of Ramazan.
According to the government, Pakistan possesses “conclusive evidence” that the attacks were carried out by militants acting on the direction of Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers. It added that the attacks were claimed by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban elements belonging to FAK and their affiliates, along with ISKP.
Describing the operation as a “retributive response,” the ministry said the armed forces conducted “intelligence-based selective targeting” while reiterating that Pakistan prioritises the safety and security of its citizens. The statement emphasised that although Pakistan seeks regional peace and stability, it will not compromise on national security.
The government also criticised the Afghan Taliban administration for failing to take “verifiable measures” to prevent Afghan territory from being used by militant groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan. It urged the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent cross-border terrorism. The statement further called on the international community to press the Taliban regime to honour its commitments under the Doha Agreement to deny the use of Afghan soil against other countries.
Rising Tensions
Militancy has resurged in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Afghan authorities to dismantle sanctuaries used by the TTP, saying its concerns have gone unaddressed.
Tensions escalated after a February 16 vehicle-borne suicide attack on a joint security forces post in Bajaur district near the Afghan border. Militants attempted to storm the Malangi check post and rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall following an exchange of fire. Eleven soldiers were martyred, while a young girl was killed and seven others, including women and children, were injured when a nearby residential building sustained damage.
Earlier on Febuary 5th, a terrorist attack on a mosque in Islamabad resulted in more than 31 martured and 169 injured. The responsibility for the attack was accepted by Afghanistan based ISKP terrorists.
Investigators identified the suicide bomber as Amad, also known as Qari Abdullah or Abu Zar, and said he belonged to the Afghan Taliban’s special forces from Balkh province. The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.
On February 21, a lieutenant colonel and a sepoy were also martyred in a suicide blast during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In its statement, the military said militants were using Afghan soil to stage attacks inside Pakistan, even during Ramazan, adding that such actions showed they had “no link with Islam.”
Earlier this week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan would not hesitate to conduct strikes inside Afghanistan if cross-border attacks persisted, stating that military options remained on the table.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time cross-border strikes have been reported. In November last year, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid alleged that Pakistan carried out air strikes in Afghanistan’s Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces. Pakistan did not officially confirm or deny those claims.
The reports surfaced the same day a suicide attack targeted the Federal Constabulary headquarters, killing three personnel and injuring 12 others.
The earlier strikes followed intense border clashes in October 2025, during which 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred and more than 200 Taliban and affiliated militants were killed, according to the military. The ISPR said the clashes began on the night of October 11 and 12 after what it described as an unprovoked attack by Afghan Taliban and India-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij militants along the Pak-Afghan border.