Four Pakistani soldiers were killed in a militant attack on the Sindh Rangers headquarters in Karachi on Saturday. Less than 24 hours later, Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan at midnight on Sunday. So far 29 people have been killed in this incident. Hundreds of people were injured. However, Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif government claimed that all the dead were militants. Some sources believe that this incident has revived tensions along the Pak-Afghan border.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said that the Pakistani army first launched a ground operation in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the Afghan border. He claimed that four militants, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan top commander Khan Farush, were killed in the operation. The Pakistani army then launched a “precision strike” targeting militant bases in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces. Twenty five militants were killed in the attack.
“Pakistan always wants to maintain peace,” Ataullah wrote on his X-handle, demanding the destruction of several militant bases and large stockpiles of arms and ammunition. But we will not compromise on the security of the citizens of the country.” He also claimed that the airstrikes targeted only Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan bases. However, the Afghan Taliban government has not yet commented on the incident.
There have been several terrorist attacks on Pakistani police and military forces in the past few months. Shahbaz government has claimed that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is behind these incidents. Although the TTP is separate from the Taliban, they are alleged to have close ties. Pakistan also claims that militant activity in the border areas has increased since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.The Afghan Taliban government in Pakistan has accused the government of harboring TTP militants. However, Kabul has always denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, militants attacked the headquarters of Vittai-e Wing of Sindh Rangers in Gulistan-e-Jawhar area of Karachi on Saturday. They first tried to breach the security cordon by detonating explosives. After that, indiscriminate firing took place. Four Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack. Pakistan alleges that TTP is also behind this attack.
