Pakistan Strikes Militant Hideouts Across Afghan Border
Air and drone strikes targeted seven TTP camps and an Islamic State affiliate after deadly suicide attacks killed dozens, officials said.
Overview
Pakistan's military carried out air and drone strikes in Afghanistan's Paktika and Nangarhar provinces targeting seven Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan camps and an Islamic State affiliate, the information ministry said.
The strikes followed a string of suicide bombings, including the February 6 attack at Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers and wounded 170, the sources said.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan had "conclusive evidence" that recent attacks were planned by Afghanistan‑based leadership and urged the international community to press the Taliban to act under the 2020 Doha agreement.
The attacks included the February 6 mosque bombing that killed 31 and wounded 170, a Bajaur blast that killed 11 soldiers and a child, and a Bannu attack that killed two soldiers.
Pakistan's military warned it would not "exercise any restraint" and said operations would continue irrespective of location, while a Qatar‑mediated October 19 ceasefire has largely held but Istanbul talks failed to produce a formal agreement.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally: they report Pakistan's claims and quotations, note absence of independent verification, include Afghan denials and denials by militant groups, and provide contextual background (TTP ties, prior clashes, ceasefire talks), avoiding overtly evaluative language or selective omission.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Pakistan targeted seven camps of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and an affiliate of Islamic State in Afghanistan's Paktika and Nangarhar provinces.
The strikes followed suicide bombings including the February 6 attack at Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad killing 31 and wounding 170, a Bajaur blast killing 11 soldiers and a child, and a Bannu attack killing two soldiers.
Pakistan has conducted repeated cross-border operations and airstrikes in Afghan provinces like Paktika, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar in 2024 and 2025 targeting TTP hideouts, referred to as 'Operation Khyber Storm'.
Pakistan's military warned it would not exercise restraint and operations would continue irrespective of location, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar cited conclusive evidence of Afghanistan-based planning and urged action under the 2020 Doha agreement.
TTP attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil pose the greatest short-term threat to Taliban stability, leading to cross-border confrontations, loss of life, and border closures; multiple states report TTP presence alongside ISIL-K and Al-Qaida.
History
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