Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says the country’s recent airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan were carried out under the right of self-defense in response to what it described as terrorist activity.
Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan’s security forces had intensified “Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq” following the recent attack in Karachi.
Andrabi said protecting the country’s security and safeguarding Pakistani citizens remain the government’s highest priorities and stressed that Islamabad would continue its campaign against terrorism.
He also stated that four armed militants, including a commander of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, were killed during a recent operation in the Bajaur region. Andrabi described the group as an “Indian proxy.”
The spokesperson further claimed that several Afghan nationals were involved in the recent Karachi attack and said one suspect had been arrested. According to him, the incident demonstrates that Afghan territory is being used to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
On June 29, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes killed 36 civilians and injured 163 others.
The Taliban have rejected Pakistan’s allegations and have repeatedly insisted that they do not allow Afghan territory to be used for attacks against other countries.
