Pakistan kills 29 ‘militants’ in overnight attacks along Afghanistan border, days after four Rangers killed | Today’s news
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated again, with Islamabad claiming to have killed at least 29 “militants” in an intelligence-led ground operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Sunday, PTI reported.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the attacks against terrorist hideouts and sanctuaries came after militants tried to enter the paramilitary Rangers headquarters in Karachi on June 27, according to PTI.
Read also | Attack on Karachi Sindh Rangers HQ: Six TTP militants killed, 4 soldiers dead
A Pakistani minister confirmed the killing of militants
Tarar confirmed that the attacks were in response to the recent numerous terrorist incidents inside Pakistan against the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Balochistan and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp, Karachi., This was reported by PTI.
He said, “Security forces conducted a well-planned intelligence-based ground operation along the Pakistan-Afghan border, followed by calibrated strikes in the border area against hideouts and safe havens of terrorists belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al Khwarij, in which twenty-nine Khwarijs were killed.”
The information minister added, “On June 28, 2026, security forces conducted an intelligence-led ground operation against a group of terrorists near the Pakistan-Afghan border in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
Pakistan continues Operation Ghazab lil-Haq
In early February this year, Islamabad launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in response to alleged attacks by Afghan Taliban forces at around 53 locations along the 2,600 km long border.
Over the weekend, Pakistan said that based on credible intelligence, it continued its “Operation Ghazb Lil Haq” while carrying out pinpoint targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al Khwarij on the night of June 28-29 in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area, according to PTI.
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At least three targets in Kunar, Paktia and Paktika were destroyed during the precision strikes that killed at least 25 terrorists. In addition, Tarar said that a large amount of weapons and ammunition stored in these Marakiz and hideouts were also destroyed.
The Taliban claim civilian casualties
While Islamabad claimed 29 militants were killed in precision strikes, the Taliban reported civilian casualties in the attacks. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, according to AFP, that Islamabad’s attacks in eastern Afghanistan killed or wounded dozens of civilians. Mujahid also called the strikes a “cowardly act of aggression”.
Here’s what we know about the Karachi terror attack
Pakistan’s precision strikes came a day after four Pakistani soldiers were killed in a blast in Karachi claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) breakaway faction. The Pakistani Taliban is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, which returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
The Karachi attack occurred on June 27 at around 8:30 pm when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a building belonging to the country’s paramilitary force, the Sindh Rangers, causing an explosion and terrorists entering the compound and opening fire. They also threw hand grenades which triggered further explosions.
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In response to the attack, the compound belonging to the Rangers was sealed off and residents were asked to stay inside, after which a 90-minute gun battle began between the attackers and Pakistani security forces. Special Security Unit (SSU) and Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) commandos have also joined the Rangers personnel.
While four Rangers soldiers were killed in the attack in Karachi, the retaliatory fire resulted in the killing of six terrorists and the capture of the injured, who was reportedly identified as an Afghan national.
The June 28 operation represents the latest escalation of tensions on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
