Pakistan’s ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ Leaves 133 Afghan Taliban killed, Over 200 Injured, Says Government

World Calls for Calm Amid Rising Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Tensions

Russia Urges ‘Immediate’ Ceasefire, Offers Mediation

Iran Ready to Facilitate Islamabad-Kabul Talks to Defuse Crisis: Abbas Araghchi

UN Presses for Civilian Safety, Respect for International Humanitarian Law

ISLAMABAD: Amid escalating tensions, Global powers have urged restraint, as Russia, Iran, and the United Nations called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to immediately halt cross-border attacks and pursue dialogue and diplomacy to defuse the situation.

Pakistan delivered a strong and comprehensive response to unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban regime, killing 133 militants and injuring over 200, Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar confirmed on Friday.

He said that 27 Afghan posts were destroyed, and nine were captured. In addition, he said more than 80 tanks, artillery guns, and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were destroyed during the engagement.

Tarar said that the Pakistan Air Force also conducted strikes in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia, and destroyed military installations belonging to the Taliban regime.

He said that two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters, artillery pieces, and armoured personnel carriers had been destroyed.

The security forces launched Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq after the Taliban regime’s unprovoked action along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

According to the reports, Pakistan's armed forces destroyed several key Afghan Taliban posts. Following Pakistan's decisive action. Afghan posts in the Angoor Adda sector were severely hit during the exchange, adding that the Afghan Charlie Post and Afghan Babri Post were completely destroyed.

They said Pakistani forces captured five Afghan posts in Afghanistan’s Paktia region and hoisted the Pakistani flag at the seized positions. The captured posts include two posts opposite Shawal, two opposite Angoor Adda, and one opposite Zarmalan. The reports showed that security officials further said that during the effective operation, Pakistani forces also destroyed the Afghan terminal at Angoor Adda.

Russia urges Pakistan & Afghanistan to halt attacks

Russia has called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to immediately halt cross-border attacks and resolve their differences through diplomacy, and said it would consider offering mediation if both sides requested it.

RIA, citing Russia’s foreign ministry, reported that Moscow was urging the two neighbours to cease attacks “immediately” and settle disagreements through diplomatic channels. The foreign ministry also said Russia would consider providing mediation if requested by both parties.

Iran offers help to facilitate dialogue

Iran also offered to help "facilitate dialogue" between Afghanistan and Pakistan after tensions flared.

"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," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

UN asks both countries to prioritise protection of civilians

In Geneva, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely monitoring the situation and is deeply concerned by the recent tensions, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

Dujarric said Guterres stressed that both countries must strictly fulfil their obligations under international law and underscored the urgent need to prioritise the protection of civilians.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty, territory, and people in the wake of intensified cross-border confrontations with Afghan Taliban forces.

President Zardari warned that anyone who mistakes Pakistan’s pursuit of peace for weakness will face a strong, comprehensive, and decisive response, stressing that no one would be beyond the reach of the nation’s armed forces.

PM Shehbaz said there would be no compromise on the country’s defence, and every act of aggression would be met with a firm and befitting response.

He emphasised that the people and the Armed Forces of Pakistan remain fully prepared to protect the nation’s security and territorial integrity.

Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan’s patience has “reached its limit” and that a strong and decisive response is delivered to the aggression. The defence minister made it clear that no compromise would be made on national security. “There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty and national safety,” he asserted.