KEY POINTS
- Security forces killed 684 Taliban terrorists and injured over 912 others, while destroying 229 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery guns.
- Minister of State for Interior reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating terrorism “at all costs”.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan: In a major breakthrough in Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a staggering 65 percent drop in terrorist attacks since the country’s security forces launched counter terrorism operation Ghazab lil-Haq, a cross-border offensive aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan, police officials revealed on Saturday.
The operation, which began last month in response to repeated cross-border aggression by the Taliban, has significantly altered the security of the province, with official data confirming a sharp reduction in attacks on both civilians and security personnel.
Terror attacks drop from 240 to 80
According to a detailed report compiled by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, 240 acts of terrorism were recorded across the province in the period preceding the counter terrorism operation.
Since its commencement, only 80 such terrorist incidents have been reported, marking a notable improvement in the overall law and order situation.
The report further stated that a cumulative total of 323 terror-related incidents have been documented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far this year.
Security forces inflict heavy casualties on terrorists
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was initiated last month after the Afghan Taliban regime engaged in unprovoked hostilities along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.
By March 15, security forces had successfully eliminated 684 terrorists linked to the Taliban and other terrorist groups, while over 912 others sustained injuries.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, in a previous briefing, revealed that the operation also resulted in the destruction of 229 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery guns.
He added that 252 terrorist posts were razed, with an additional 44 posts captured before being demolished.
Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating terrorism
Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry attributed the reduction in terror attacks to the targeted strikes against terrorists’ hideouts inside Afghanistan.
He reiterated the government’s unwavering resolve to eradicate terrorism “at all costs” and confirmed that key masterminds behind major terrorist activities had been neutralised during the operation.
Chaudhry also noted that Pakistan had shared actionable intelligence regarding terrorist sanctuaries with the Afghan Taliban regime in hopes of fostering cooperation.
Unified counterterrorism drive
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah lauded the outcomes of the security operation, stating that it had brought tangible improvements to the province’s law and order situation.
He emphasised the seamless coordination between federal and provincial institutions in the fight against terrorism.
“All stakeholders are united in their approach to eliminating terrorism,” Shah said while speaking to the media.
The rise in terrorist violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over recent years has been closely linked to the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Despite repeated requests from Islamabad, Afghan authorities have consistently refused to act against terrorist groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched months after Pakistan and Afghanistan reached a ceasefire in October 2025, following clashes triggered by what Islamabad termed unprovoked Afghan fire intended to facilitate terrorist infiltration.
The initial truce was established at Kabul’s request, followed by a broader agreement brokered by Qatar and Turkiye, under which Afghanistan was expected to halt all cross-border terrorist activity.
However, subsequent talks in Turkiye failed to produce the desired results as the Taliban regime failed to address Pakistan’s security concerns.
