- Explosion reported at militant hideout in Paktika’s Bermal.
- Jets carried out airstrike, says Afghan media citing sources.
- Militant infrastructure destroyed in strike, according to reports.
ISLAMABAD: An explosion targeted a militant hideout in the Bermal area of Afghanistan’s Paktika province, with jet aircraft carrying out an airstrike that destroyed militant infrastructure, Afghan media reported, citing sources.
Following the strike in Paktika, another attack was reported in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, with further airstrikes later reported in the Ghani Khel, Behsud and Argoon areas. The number of possible militant casualties could not be confirmed, Afghan media said.
The strikes early Sunday came days after Pakistan summoned the Afghan mission and lodged a strong demarche with the Afghan Taliban authorities over the deadly terrorist attack in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that martyred 11 Pakistan Army soldiers.
“Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the vehicle-borne suicide terrorist attack, followed by a fire raid on Pakistan military and law enforcement agencies’ post in Bajaur, carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Fitna al Khwarij),” stated a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
The demarche followed the cowardly terrorist attack on a joint checkpost of the security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) on February 16.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 12 terrorists belonging to an India-backed proxy were killed while 11 security personnel embraced martyrdom in the attack.
The foreign office, in the demarche, conveyed serious concern that the TTP, whose leadership is based in Afghanistan, continues to operate with impunity from Afghan soil.
It was re-emphasised that Pakistan has repeatedly received assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime, but, regrettably, no visible or concrete action has followed.
The Afghan Taliban regime was told to take immediate, concrete, and verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from its territory, including their leadership, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said the Afghan Taliban regime was also categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate any Khwarij belonging to the TTP along with their affiliates, wherever they are located, to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians and territorial boundaries.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in cross-border terrorist incidents since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The provinces of KP and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan, have been particularly affected by these attacks.
This is a developing story and is being updated with additional details.
