Pakistan’s armed forces have carried out successful ground and aerial operations against Afghan Taliban elements and groups described by authorities as ‘Fitna-al-Khawarij’ in the Kurram sector along the Pak-Afghan border, it was reported on Friday.
The sources said Pakistani forces used heavy artillery fire to target several posts allegedly operated by Afghan Taliban fighters and militant groups, and several posts were destroyed during the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq.
Security officials said the operation remains underway and will continue until its stated objectives are achieved. They said the campaign was aimed at militant infrastructure and cross-border facilitation points that authorities believe have been used to stage attacks.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban regime has increased pressure and restrictions on the media following the Operation Ghazab lil Haq, as it attempts to control coverage of the developments.
According to reports aired by the 24NewsHD TV channel, the Taliban government has come under significant pressure after the alleged Pakistani air operations and has tightened restrictions on local media outlets.
Afghan media organisation Amo TV reported that Taliban officials had warned journalists against reporting on the strikes, particularly incidents linked to Taliban military installations.
According to the report, local media outlets were instructed not to publish or broadcast details about the locations of Pakistani airstrikes or the number of attacks carried out.
The report further said that information about damage to Taliban military facilities was also barred from reaching the public. Amo TV added that the directives appeared to be aimed at limiting the flow of information, while journalists were also cautioned about potential consequences if the instructions were not followed.
Regional affairs analysts say restrictions on reporting about the alleged destruction of militant hideouts and related losses reflect the difficulties being faced by the Taliban administration.
According to these analysts, the imposition of media censorship also indicates continuing concerns about the presence of various armed groups operating inside Afghanistan.
Experts on regional affairs further argue that the restrictions highlight allegations that militant sanctuaries remain present in Afghanistan under the patronage of the Taliban regime.
Separately, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) briefed media personnel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about details of Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq during a meeting held a day earlier.
Officials rejected reports suggesting that civilian populations were being targeted, calling such claims contrary to facts. They said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Pakistan) and security institutions were providing regular updates and releasing verified video footage regarding the progress of the operation.
The meeting was also told that intelligence-based operations were continuing inside Pakistan, with more than 200 such operations reportedly being carried out daily against suspected militant networks.
Officials stated that the Afghan Taliban leadership would have to decide between maintaining relations with Pakistan or continuing to support militant groups. They added that Operation Ghazb Lil-Haq was a continuation of Pakistan’s ongoing war against terrorism and would continue until credible guarantees and practical measures were taken to end the alleged sponsorship of militant activities.
