ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani security official said on Monday that the Afghan Taliban must decide whether they stand with Pakistan or with terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, warning that Pakistan’s military operations would continue until Islamabad receives verifiable assurances.
The security official said operations inside Afghanistan would continue until the Taliban authorities cease facilitating Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan terrorist groups on Afghanistan’s soil.
Pakistan uses Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group and Fitna al-Hindustan to describe terrorist groups operating in Balochistan.
The security official said that these terrorist groups are based in Afghanistan, receive support from the Afghan Taliban and are sponsored by India.
“We are in no hurry,” he said, adding that the duration of Pakistan’s retaliatory operations would depend on “ground actions” taken by the Afghan Taliban government to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq
On February 20, 2026, Pakistan’s armed forces launched an “immediate and effective” retaliatory operation in response to unprovoked Afghan Taliban border aggression.
The operation was launched following terrorist attacks originating from across the border in Afghanistan.
The military action targeted Afghan Taliban positions and terrorist infrastructure at multiple locations in Afghanistan.
The senior security official accused the Afghan Taliban government of acting as a “proxy master” by patronising terrorist groups that were sabotaging regional peace.
He alleged that under a distorted religious ideology, the Taliban were promoting a war economy and that their leadership’s primary objective was financial gain and vested interests.
He said Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was issuing regular updates on Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq and that full transparency was being maintained.
According to the security official, Pakistan is targeting terrorist safe havens and their facilitators in Afghanistan.
He described these terrorist sanctuaries as legitimate targets under the principle of self-defence, citing attacks on Pakistani citizens, mosques and children.
He further said that the Afghan Taliban government and their “Indian backers” were spreading fabricated propaganda and false information through official social media accounts.
He said all claims should be verified rather than depending on the incredible Taliban sources.
The official said Pakistan’s actions had received a positive response from “oppressed Afghan communities and minorities”.
He stressed that Pakistan had no dispute with the Afghan people and that its operations were directed only against “Khariji elements” and their supporters involved in or facilitating terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
He said Pakistan had no involvement in any change of government in Afghanistan, calling it an internal matter.
He said Afghan citizens were satisfied that military action had been taken against oppressive elements.
According to the security official, more than 180 posts have been destroyed and control of over 30 key locations secured. He said these locations had been used as terrorist launch pads.
He reiterated that Pakistan would not rush to conclude the operation and that facilitators and abettors of terrorists would face consequences.
He maintained that Pakistan was not conducting indiscriminate strikes but was targeting specific infrastructure and installations used to support terrorist groups.
435 Afghan Taliban fighters killed so far
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that 435 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed since the start of Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq.
In a post on X, Tarar said more than 630 terrorists had been injured.
He added that Pakistan’s security forces had destroyed 188 Taliban check posts and captured 31 positions during coordinated ground and aerial operations.
He further stated that 188 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces had been destroyed and that 51 locations across Afghanistan had been struck through precision air operations.
✅Operation Ghazb lil Haq
✅Update 1500 hours 2 March✅ Summary of Afghan Taliban losses
▪️435 Killed,
▪️630 + Injured
▪️188 Check posts destroyed
▪️31 Posts captured,
▪️188 tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery guns destroyed
▪️51 locations across Afghanistan effectively…— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 2, 2026
The operation was launched following an unprovoked Afghan Taliban attack from across the border.
They said the campaign remains focused on dismantling terrorist infrastructure posing a threat to Pakistan’s security.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of harbouring leaders of the TTP, whom Islamabad says use Afghan territory as a safe haven to plan and launch cross-border terrorist attacks.
The United Nations has previously reported links between the TTP and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities.
Islamabad has said that durable peace depends on concrete measures to curb terrorism and prevent cross-border violence by Afghanistan-based terrorist groups.
Situation in Middle East
The senior security official also addressed regional tensions involving Iran.
He said Pakistan was pursuing a balanced policy based on the need for dialogue between countries involved in the current Middle East conflict and had also offered its role in the peace efforts.
The official said that Iran had appreciated Pakistan’s response, and China and Russia had also endorsed it.
Pakistan had conveyed concerns over Iran targeting brotherly Arab countries, he added.
He dismissed suggestions that Pakistan could be the next target as baseless and said Pakistan and Iran could not be equated in terms of military strength, foreign policy or internal conditions.
He said Pakistan adhered to a strong foreign policy and valued relations with multiple global partners, based on constructive engagement aimed at stability and prosperity.
The official added that Pakistan had the capability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, citing the recent “Battle of Truth” and the country’s long war against terrorism.
He said Pakistan highly valued its decades-long brotherly and strategic relations with Saudi Arabia.
