Islamabad, February 28 Pakistani authorities said that approximately 331 members of the Afghan Taliban and their allied terrorist groups have been killed so far as the operation against them was ongoing, it emerged on Saturday.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, providing an early update on the losses suffered by the Afghan Taliban, said that 331 Taliban personnel have been killed and another 500 have been injured.
He said that Pakistani forces had completely destroyed 104 military posts, while they had also captured another 22 border posts during Operation Ghazab lil-Ha. Tarar also said that 163 tanks and armored vehicles had been destroyed, adding that Pakistan had also targeted 37 locations with air strikes.
Pakistan launched a massive retaliatory attack, code-named Operation Ghazab lil-Ha, 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 organizations.
"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 organizations, and Pakistan," he said.
"They have to make this choice. The Pakistani government has made this clear. This 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 the lives lost in the recent conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban”.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation 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 "we also 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 neighbors.
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.
Turkey was also in contact with both sides and was making efforts to end the hostilities.
