Pakistan has launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban after “unprovoked firing” from across the border
The US expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Afghan Taliban attacks. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker conveyed condolences for the lives lost and said she was closely monitoring the situation
The armed forces continued ground and air operations against the Afghan Taliban overnight. The Pakistan Air Force struck formation headquarters in Nangarhar and posts in other areas. The army also carried out additional combat operations, targeting border posts
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the armed forces had killed 331 Afghan Taliban personnel and injured more than 500 others since the start of the operation. He added that 104 posts had been destroyed and 22 captured, while 163 tanks and armoured vehicles had also been destroyed
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said they were willing to negotiate after Pakistan unleashed air strikes on major Afghan cities, as key regional powers moved swiftly to prevent the conflict from spiraling
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, in an update on his X account, said the armed forces had killed 331 Afghan Taliban personnel and injured more than 500 others since the start of the operation.
He added that the armed forces had destroyed 104 posts and captured 22 others.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dismissed reports of a Pakistani jet being shot down in Nangarhar and the capture of a pilot as false.
In a fact check posted on its X account, the ministry said that “Pakistan armed forces have not reported any aircraft loss” and added that the claim —made by the Afghan Ministry of Defence — was “widely amplified by Indian and Afghan propaganda outlets”.
“No pilot capture evidence exists,” the ministry said, adding that the circulated visuals were “recycled and unrelated”.
A large‑scale protest rally held in Mian Mandi Bazaar, the principal commercial hub of the tribal district of Mohmand, has expressed support for the Pakistan Army in their ongoing efforts against the Afghan Taliban aggression.
The demonstration saw participation from the district administration, senior officials, tribal elders and a large number of residents, who chanted slogans in favour of the armed forces and called for decisive measures to stop cross‑border infiltration and terrorist activities from neighbouring Afghanistan.
Demonstrators at the rally taken out in support of Paksitan Army on February 28 in Mohmand district. — Photo via Fauzee Khan Mohmand
Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital has been put on high alert amid tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In a notification issued today, the administration said, “Due to the ongoing war on the borders of our motherland, an emergency meeting at Lady Reading Hospital-MTI has decided to suspend all leave effective immediately.
“Additionally, all departments must reserve 25 per cent of their total bed capacity for emergency use only, with no routine admissions allowed for these beds,” the notification read.
The headquarters of the Afghan army in Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces have been destroyed in targeted air strikes carried out by the armed forces, as per security sources.
Air strikes carried out by the Pakistan armed forces have hit two targets at the Mohmand Dara Base in Nangarhar as the operation against the Afghan Taliban regime’s aggression continues, state-run Pakistan TV reports.
A health emergency has been declared across the North Waziristan district with immediate effect, according to a notification issued by the District Health Office amid the ongoing conflict.
The notification states that all employees must “remain on high alert and ensure their immediate availability for duty at all times”. All leaves were also suspended, added the notification.
The notification also directed staff to “ensure proper coordination, timely reporting, and uninterrupted delivery of emergency health services”.
Intense explosions, believed to be the result of cross-border artillery fire, reverberated through parts of Mohmand district along the Pak-Afghan border late on Friday night, sending waves of panic through nearby communities.
Residents of multiple villages told Dawn that the first blasts were heard shortly after sunset, followed by intermittent shelling that continued for several hours.
“It felt as if the ground beneath us was trembling,” said Habib Gul, a resident of a border village.“We have experienced tensions in the past, but the intensity last night was different. The children were terrified.”
Witnesses also reported the sound of fighter jets roaring overhead and helicopters flying at unusually low altitudes.
By early morning, the situation appeared relatively calm, though a heightened security presence was observed in certain areas.
Some villagers claimed to have seen smoke rising from distant hills along the border belt. There was no immediate official statement confirming the nature of the exchange, nor any verified reports of casualties at the time this report was filed.
The district administration imposed Section 144 in several parts of Dera Ismail Khan in view of the prevailing law and order situation, restricting all movement in specified areas until 6pm.
According to a notification issued by the deputy commissioner, the restrictions have been enforced as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and maintain peace. Under Section 144, all movement is completely banned within the notified localities for the stipulated period.
The areas placed under restriction include the Tank Road stretch from Tariq Shaheed to Bhagwal, as well as Kulachi, Hathala, Kot Attal, and Garah Abdullah.
The order also covers several link roads, including Takwarah, Hathala Link Road, Pota Badh Link Road, Kanori, Garah Mohabbat Link Road, Chehkan Village to Darbari Link Road, and Pota Kot Isa Khan Link Road.
No further details regarding the nature of the security threat were immediately disclosed.
Sparse civilian traffic seen in the district. — Photo by correspondent
The district administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district has imposed an emergency to ensure public safety. Amid fears of possible terrorist activity, the movement of certain types of vehicles has been restricted within the city. According to police, there were credible reports of potential sabotage involving various types of vehicles.
Meanwhile, District Education Officer Abdul Malik has announced a one-day closure of all government schools due to the prevailing security situation. Similarly, the District Bar Association Bannu has called a complete strike today, with a notification issued by the association’s General Secretary, Usman Sikandari, Advocate.
Bannu Police have directed all police stations to remain on high alert and further strengthen security measures. Roads around Bannu Cantt and the Police Lines have been closed as a precaution.
According to District Police Officer Bannu, Yasir Afridi, six terrorist attacks at various locations in the city were successfully foiled through timely action. Militant advances were prevented at the Kashoo Bridge police check post and in the Kotka Muhammad Khan Domel area, while a separate firing incident was reported at the Kinger police check post.
The district administration and police have urged citizens to avoid spreading rumours, fully cooperate with security agencies, and strictly follow official directives to prevent any untoward incidents.
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have said they were willing to negotiate.
“Afghanistan… has always preferred to resolve issues based on mutual understanding and respect,” the Afghan foreign ministry quoted Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as telling Qatar’s junior Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalifi by telephone.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid echoed that sentiment, saying “now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue”.
Key regional powers are also quickly mobilising to prevent the conflict from spiralling.
The Pakistan Army, as part of its retaliatory actions, destroyed the Afghan Taliban’s Aala Jirga Thana post in the Qila Saifullah sector, said security sources.
The armed forces continued ground and air operations against Afghan Taliban forces overnight.
Security sources said that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) targeted a brigade and battalion headquarters of the Afghan Taliban in Nangarhar province.
The army captured the New Afghan 8 post and destroyed it with explosives, according to security sources. Another Taliban post in the Noshki sector was also destroyed, they added.
The US Mission in Pakistan has advised US citizens residing in the country to exercise caution amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In an advisory issued today, the state department said, “Due to heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pakistani security forces have increased their presence in major cities in response to potential terrorist threats.
“Law enforcement facilities, military installations, and major commercial centres remain likely targets for terrorist organisations,” it said.
“The US Mission advises citizens to exercise caution when visiting these locations, particularly during peak hours,” the advisory added.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has called for Afghanistan and Pakistan to de-escalate and engage in dialogue, Reuters reports.
“The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan,” Kallas said in a statement.
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker said on X that she spoke to Pakistan’s foreign secretary to “express condolences for lives lost in the recent conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban”.
“ We continue to monitor the situation closely and expressed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” she said.
In a statement issued on X, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its “concern and regret over the escalation of clashes” between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“It has called for the immediate commencement of dialogue and engagement between the two countries to halt the fighting and de-escalate tensions,” the statement said.
“While renewing its call on both sides to respect each other’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty and to refrain from any action that could further intensify tensions and conflict, the Islamic Republic of Iran declares its readiness to provide any assistance aimed at reducing tensions and facilitating dialogue between the two countries to bring a complete end to the military confrontation and achieve mutual understanding,” it added.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan after fierce fighting broke out between the neighboring countries, according to Reuters.
Guterres “is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence we’re seeing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the impact that violence is having on civilian populations,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
“He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and he reiterates his call on the parties to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” the spokesman added.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that if any country engages in any act of provocation or aggression against Pakistan, “we will go to any extent to defend the country, without fear or hesitation”.
In an X post, CM Afridi said, “This is not only the stance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government; every Pakistani considers it a national duty.
“Despite internal differences and criticism on flawed policies, we will stand by our country and our security forces in the face of external conspiracies or aggression.”
He mentioned that he had shared the directives given by PTI founder and incarcerated leader Imran Khan with federal government representatives in his last meeting with them.
He quoted Khan as saying, “Now, for establishing peace in Afghanistan and the tribal areas, it is necessary to take the three parties along. First, the people of tribal areas; second, the Afghan government; and third, the people of Afghanistan. Without the support of these three stakeholders, no successful operation or sustainable solution is possible.
In light of these directives by Imran, CM Afridi said, “I advised the federal representatives to form a national jirga comprising representatives of the provincial and federal governments, tribal elders and leaders of all political and religious parties.
“This is the only way through which issues can be resolved in the best possible manner. War should always be the last option. War escalates problems; it does not reduce them.”
Speaking to reporters before heading to Texas, US President Donald Trump was asked about Pakistan’s retaliation to unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban.
Asked whether someone had asked for him to intervene, Trump said, “Well, I would but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well. Very, very well.
“[They] have a great prime minister, a great general there … two of the people I really respect a lot,” he said.
“And I think that Pakistan is doing terrifically well,” he said.
Mosharraf Zaidi, the prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, has given an update on Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, saying Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate the scourge of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan continued through the day.
In a post on X, he said, “A total of 297 Afghan Taliban are confirmed killed, and more than 450 are reported injured.”
He further said that 89 Afghan Taliban posts have been destroyed and 18 have been captured, while 135 Afghan Taliban regime tanks and armed personnel carriers have been destroyed.
“Twenty-nine locations across Afghanistan have been subjected to aerial targeting,” he said.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan targeted military installations and terrorist bases, adding that Kabul’s Green Zone was not touched during the operation.
“Their military installations have been completely destroyed. This is an ongoing situation and we will see where the situation leads,” he said, while speaking on Geo News.
“Afghan Taliban tried skirmishes, firing, and tried to inflict harm in Khyber and Chitral. However, they did not have the capacity. They do not have any capability in conventional warfare,” he said.
He noted that a difference in tone had been observed in the Afghan Taliban since yesterday.
