Pakistan Hits FAK, ISKP Hideouts in Afghanistan
News Desk
Islamabad: In a major escalation of its counterterrorism campaign, Pakistan on Saturday confirmed it carried out precision airstrikes on seven terrorist camps and hideouts inside Afghanistan, targeting groups allegedly responsible for recent deadly attacks on its soil.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the strikes were conducted as part of intelligence-based operations against militants belonging to Fitna al Khawarij (FAK), an affiliate of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP).
The ministry said the decision followed a series of suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu, including an attack at an Imam Bargah in the federal capital and another incident during the holy month of Ramazan in Bannu.
Islamabad maintains it has “conclusive evidence” that the attacks were orchestrated by Khawarij operating from Afghan territory under the direction of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.
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“Responsibilities for these attacks were also claimed by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban belonging to Fitna al Khawarij and their affiliates, and ISKP,” the statement said.
Targets in Nangarhar and Paktia
Afghan media reported that explosions were heard in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktia, particularly in Khogyani, Khel and Behsud districts of Nangarhar and in Murgha Bazaar in Paktia.
Fighter jets were said to have carried out the airstrikes in multiple locations.
According to the reports, terrorist infrastructure in the targeted areas was destroyed.
However, no official confirmation regarding casualties was immediately available from Afghan authorities.
Social media accounts linked to the banned TTP claimed heavy losses among their ranks, though these reports remain independently unverified.
Pakistan’s Position
In its statement, Pakistan reiterated that it had repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban regime to take “verifiable measures” to prevent Afghan soil from being used by terrorist groups and foreign proxies to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
“Despite repeated efforts by Pakistan to urge the Afghan Taliban regime to deny use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups, no substantive action was undertaken,” the ministry said.
Describing the strikes as a “retributive response,” Islamabad said the operations were selective, intelligence-driven and carried out with “precision and accuracy” along the Pakistan-Afghan border region.
Pakistan emphasized that while it remains committed to regional peace and stability, the protection of its citizens remains its foremost priority.
The government also called on the interim Afghan authorities to fulfil their obligations under the Doha Agreement by ensuring that Afghan territory is not used against other countries.
Islamabad urged the international community to play a constructive role in pressing the Taliban regime to honour these commitments, describing such steps as essential for regional and global security.
The latest operation underscores Pakistan’s intensified stance in its ongoing fight against terrorism, particularly against cross-border militant networks accused of destabilizing the country’s border regions and major urban centres.
