Pakistan’s security authorities have indicated that ongoing military actions linked to Operation Ghazab Lil Haqq will continue until Islamabad’s counterterrorism objectives are achieved, while outlining a series of demands directed at the Afghan Taliban leadership.
According to security officials, Afghan authorities are fully aware of the conditions required to halt the current escalation, particularly the dismantling of militant sanctuaries used to launch attacks against Pakistan.
Officials said that after recent Pakistani strikes, Afghan Taliban elements were seen attempting to shield members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups by relocating them and placing them in areas populated by civilians.
“They know what our demands are if the fighting is to stop,” a security official said, adding that individuals wanted by Pakistan are allegedly being kept behind “human shields” inside Afghanistan.
Border Infrastructure Targeted
Security officials stated that Pakistan’s military operations have already destroyed 36 militant launch posts allegedly used to facilitate cross-border attacks into Pakistan.
“These were positions from where attacks were being launched against our territory,” the official said, adding that the strikes were directed against militant infrastructure rather than Afghanistan itself.
The official emphasized that Pakistan had targeted hostile elements threatening its security, not Afghan civilians or the Afghan state.
Bagram Strike and Military Objectives
Responding to reports regarding strikes at Bagram Air Base, officials said the objective was to destroy weapons systems and logistical infrastructure allegedly being used against Pakistan.
“The purpose was to neutralize weapons and logistics being used to facilitate attacks on our soil,” the source said.
Security authorities added that intelligence assessments indicated the presence of militant-linked supply networks operating through various facilities in Afghanistan.
Strategic Warning to Kabul
Officials further suggested that the Afghan Taliban government is acting as a “super-proxy” for external actors, though they did not specify countries in their public remarks.
They argued that Afghan Taliban forces had effectively “brought the conflict onto Pakistan’s pitch” by allowing cross-border militant attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
“Once our forces were attacked, we had no option but to respond,” the official said.
National Consensus on Security Measures
Security authorities said there is broad political consensus inside Pakistan regarding several key security policies, including the repatriation of Afghan refugees and continued counterterrorism operations.
They also praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for recognizing the seriousness of the security threat and cooperating with federal security institutions on counterterrorism measures.
Officials maintained that Pakistan’s military has the operational experience and capacity to respond to any form of conflict if required.
Legal and Strategic Justification
According to the officials, Pakistan views its actions inside Afghanistan as justified under international law, as well as under what they described as religious and moral obligations to defend national sovereignty.
They added that regional governments and international partners are aware of the locations of militant groups and possess evidence of their presence in Afghanistan.
Security authorities also claimed that several friendly countries, along with sections of the Afghan public, support Pakistan’s demand that militant groups be prevented from using Afghan territory.
Long-Term Security Outlook
Officials stressed that Pakistan’s strategy is not aimed at destabilizing Afghanistan but at eliminating the roots of terrorism directed against Pakistan.
They reiterated that defending national territory remains the priority, whether through border buffer arrangements or operations along strategic corridors such as the Wakhan region.
“The responsibility of dealing with militant factions operating from Afghan soil ultimately lies with the Afghan people,” an official said.
Authorities also pointed to earlier operations in areas such as Tirah, arguing that targeted action against militant bases had successfully neutralized threats without the need for a large-scale military campaign.
“We targeted the foundations of attacks against Pakistan,” the official said. “Once those bases were dismantled, the problem subsided.”
