Islamabad, February 28 Pakistani security forces have killed 352 members of the Afghan Taliban and their allied terrorist groups in ongoing air and ground operations, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday.
The minister said that Pakistani forces had completely destroyed 130 military posts, while they had also captured another 26 border posts.
Providing an update at 9 pm (local time) on the losses of the Afghan Taliban, Tarar said that so far, 352 Taliban personnel have been killed and another 535 have been injured.
Tarar also said that 171 tanks and armored vehicles have been destroyed, adding that Pakistan had also struck 41 locations "with precision air strikes".
Pakistan launched a massive retaliatory attack, code-named Operation Ghazab lil Haq, after the Afghan side simultaneously attacked 53 locations along the more than 2,600 km-long border.
Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, the army spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, said that the Afghan Taliban should choose between Pakistan and the terrorist organisations.
"I want to make one thing clear: the oppressive Afghan Taliban regime has to make a clear choice. The choice is to choose between Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Baloch Liberation Army, Daesh, Al Qaeda, the terrorists and terrorist organisations, and Pakistan," he said.
"They have to make this choice. The Pakistani government has made this clear. It is not something new I am saying...They have to make this choice. Whether they choose terrorists and terrorism or Pakistan. We are clear...Let it be known that our choice is absolutely clear. It will always be Pakistan over everything.”
Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing the TTP and other terrorist groups to use their soil for residence, training and logistics to carry out attacks against Pakistan.
The Afghan side rejects these allegations and asks Pakistan to put its own house in order by holding talks with the militants.
Meanwhile, a senior US official supported Pakistan’s right to defend against terrorists.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker said 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 express support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks,” she said on X.
As tensions mounted, the Afghan Taliban showed willingness to negotiate with Pakistan.
“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”.
Efforts for de-escalation were also underway as regional countries made diplomatic efforts to end the bad blood between the two neighbours.
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered to mediate on X.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Araghchi said.
Official sources said that Saudi Arabia and Qatar were doing their parts to bring peace. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan talked to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as Afghan acting FM Amir Muttaqi.
Türkiye was also in touch with both sides and was making efforts to end the hostilities.
