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The Afghan Ministry of Defense has confirmed that it conducted overnight airstrikes against sites linked to ISIS-affiliated militant groups in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The targeted locations, according to the Afghan officials, were used for planning, coordinating, and sending militants into Afghanistan.
In a statement, the Afghan Ministry of Defense stated that the strikes aimed to dismantle the infrastructure of the Khawarij, a militant group linked to ISIS. The operation was carried out against the group’s centers in Pakistan’s Pishin District and the Qambar Khel area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Afghan officials said that these militant centers in Pakistan were being utilized for coordinating and planning attacks against Afghanistan. They also provided logistics support to suicide bombers who target Afghan civilians.
The strikes specifically targeted two prominent militant centers in Balochistan’s Pishin District and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Qambar Khel area. The center in Balochistan was responsible for planning and organizing attacks, while the center in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a joint operation hub for the Khawarij and saboteurs, allegedly led by General Shah Salim.
According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, precise targeting of the militant hideouts resulted in no civilian casualties or financial losses.
In a statement, the Afghan Air Force warned that it is ready to target any location from which Afghanistan’s security is under threat, implying that future operations may be conducted against any group or location deemed a risk to Afghanistan’s national security.
The airstrikes have sparked concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the region, particularly in the light of the recent resurgence of militant activity. While details of the operation remain sketchy, it is clear that the Afghan military is determined to tackle the issue head-on, and that Pakistan’s willingness to cooperate will be crucial in the efforts to counter terrorism.