The United States has expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, following coordinated military operations by Islamabad that killed 29 militants in border regions near Afghanistan. The State Department’s remarks came after Pakistan confirmed that its forces conducted ground and aerial strikes under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting hideouts linked to groups such as Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al-Khawarij.
“The Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists,” a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday, adding that Washington “supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.” The statement reinforces Islamabad’s longstanding position that cross-border militancy remains a serious threat to its security, particularly from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
According to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the operations began with an intelligence-led raid in Bajaur district on June 29, killing four militants, including high-value commander Khan Farosh, alias Zabal. This was followed by overnight precision strikes between June 28 and 29 against three terrorist camps in Afghanistan’s Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces, resulting in 25 additional deaths. Tarar said large caches of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed during the strikes.
The military action was a direct response to a surge in terrorist incidents inside Pakistan, including attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and a raid on a Pakistan Rangers camp in Karachi. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also reported that Pakistani forces shot down four “rudimentary” drones launched by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban regime of providing safe havens to militant groups that orchestrate cross-border attacks.
The development comes as relations between Islamabad and Washington have improved since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Pakistan, a major non-NATO ally of the United States, has also played a mediatory role in efforts to de-escalate tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Analysts say the US endorsement of Pakistan’s self-defense claims could further strengthen bilateral ties, though it may also complicate relations with Kabul.
For more on regional security dynamics, see Reuters’ Asia-Pacific coverage and BBC’s explainer on Pakistan-Afghanistan border tensions. Additional context on terrorism in South Asia is available on Wikipedia.
Source: Geo News