Pak Army carries out ‘precision strikes’ in Kabul and Kandahar

The Pakistan armed forces conducted “precision strikes” in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and capital Kabul, state broadcaster PTV News reported on Wednesday amid active border hostilities between the two countries. 

A statement uploaded on X, quoting security sources, said: “Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action against Afghan Taliban aggression, key hideouts destroyed. Key hideouts of Afghan Taliban successfully targeted by Pakistan Army.

“These precision strikes were carried out in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. As a result of these strikes, Afghan Taliban Battalion Number 4 and Border Brigade Number 6 completely destroyed. Dozens of foreign and Afghan operatives killed.”

The statement added that the Pakistan Army possessed the “full capability to give a strong and complete response to any external aggression”.

In a subsequent update, PTV said, citing security sources, that strikes were conducted in Kabul as well. “The centre and leadership of Fitna al-Hindustan were targeted in Kabul. The Pakistan Army possesses the full capability to give a befitting response to any aggression,” PTV said. 

The post added that the Pakistan Army targeted Afghan Taliban Battalion Headquarters No 4, Battalion 8, and Border Brigade No 5 in Kandahar.

“All these targets were meticulously selected, isolated from civilian populations, and successfully destroyed,” the post read.

Fitna-al-Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist organisations in Balo­chistan. 

Earlier, Pakistan’s armed forces have repelled coordinated attacks by Afghan Taliban fighters and members of the outlawed Fitna al-Khwarij group near the border town of Chaman, specifically in the Spin Boldak area. 

The 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday that the security sources confirmed that 15 to 20 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed in the confrontation in the Spin Boldak area near the Chaman border.

The death toll of Afghan Taliban and Khwarij in two days in the Spin Boldak and Kurram sectors has now risen to 50.

The Afghan Taliban and Khwarij launched early Wednesday morning assaults at three different locations, but the Pakistan Army’s swift and effective response forced them to retreat. Security officials confirmed that the attackers were using nearby villages and innocent civilians as human shields.

During the attack, Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij militants blew up the Pak-Afghan Dosti Gate (Friendship Gate) on the Afghan side of the border.

According to military officials, the deliberate destruction of the gate indicates that the Afghan Taliban are not interested in facilitating cross-border trade or civilian movement.

Security intelligence suggests that more Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij fighters are regrouping in the Spin Boldak area.

According to security sources, following the Pakistani army's forceful response in the Chaman Sector of Spin Boldak, the Afghan Taliban have requested a ceasefire. 

The security sources said the defeated Afghan Taliban have released fabricated videos of them taking over the Pakistani army's war weapons on social media. 

Security sources have clarified that there is no truth in the false news spread by the Afghan Taliban on social media. 

Security sources said the Pakistani army is always ready to give a befitting reply to any aggression by the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij, and the response to aggression will be severe and more than expected.

Meanwhile, a separate assault attempt by the same groups in the Kurram sector last night was also successfully thwarted by Pakistani forces.

In that operation, eight Taliban posts and six tanks along with their crews were destroyed. Thirty militants were killed, and American-made weapons were seized by the Pakistan Army.

Following the strong counter-offensive, the Kurram sector remains calm. On the previous day, Pakistan's security forces destroyed four Taliban posts and a tank within an hour in the same region.

After suffering heavy losses, Afghan Taliban fighters left behind several bodies and abandoned the battlefield. Among the dead was reportedly a key militant commander.

Two days ago, Pakistani forces countered a major cross-border assault by Afghan Taliban and Indian-sponsored militants. Over 200 attackers were killed in that operation.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan captured 21 Afghan border posts previously held by Taliban fighters. However, 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred and 29 injured in the fierce exchange of fire.

The ISPR added that the Pakistan Army exercised its right to self-defence after unprovoked aggression by Taliban forces and their allies on the night of October 11 and 12.

The attack included gunfire and physical raids along the international border. Military officials described the assault as a cowardly attempt to facilitate terrorism inside Pakistani territory.

The Pakistan Army spokesperson confirmed that the Taliban and Khawarij suffered significant casualties. Alongside the dead, the number of injured militants in Afghanistan is also believed to be high.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor