"In exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence, Pakistan conducted precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan used for launching and storing these drones. The strikes were deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate and strictly limited to identified military objectives directly linked to the attempted attacks against Pakistan," said Tarar in a post on X.
The strikes were in response to drone attacks from Afghanistan. A day earlier, Pakistan’s air defence systems had shot down eight drones after they entered the country’s airspace from Afghanistan. Security sources said four of the drones were brought down in areas adjoining the Torkham border, while another four were shot down in mountainous areas near the border with Kohat.
Tarar said the drone incursion on September 23 was a “blatant violation” of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a “grave and unacceptable act of aggression”.
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the deliberate and unlawful incursion into Pakistan by drones on September 23, launched from Afghan territory,” he said.
The minister said that Pakistan’s Air Defence systems detected, tracked and neutralised all intruding platforms before they could reach any of their intended targets, comprehensively thwarting the attempted attack.
The minister said Pakistan for years had repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors over the continued presence of terrorist sanctuaries and support networks on Afghan soil.
“Instead of dismantling these networks and taking credible and verifiable action against those using Afghan territory to perpetrate terrorism against Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban regime has chosen to escalate the situation through hostile drone operations against Pakistan,” he said.
Tarar warned that Pakistan would not tolerate attacks launched from Afghan territory, "whether by terrorist groups or by the Afghan Taliban regime itself."
“Any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty will be met with an immediate and decisive response,” he added.
He called on the Afghan Taliban regime to immediately cease all hostile activity against Pakistan and take effective, concrete, verifiable and sustained action against terrorist entities operating from Afghan soil.
“Afghan territory must not be used to launch attacks or conduct hostile operations against Pakistan,” Tarar said. He added that Pakistan did not seek escalation and remained committed to “regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement”.
“This commitment must not be mistaken for weakness or an unlimited tolerance of hostile actions,” he said. “Pakistan will defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the lives of its citizens with full resolve and will take all necessary measures to protect them,” Tarar added.
In a separate post, Tarar said, “Through precise aerial and drone strikes, as seen in the attached clip, terrorist hideouts and support infrastructure, including drone launching and storage sites across 10 locations in areas under the control of the Afghan Taliban regime, were comprehensively destroyed,” Tarar said.
“Pakistan will continue to defend its territorial integrity and protect the lives and property of its citizens against any externally sponsored, sheltered and abetted threat by terrorist proxies,” he added
The recent tension started between the neighbouring countries after a blast at a mosque in Kohat’s Police Lines during Friday prayers, in which 23 people, including 15 police personnel, were martyred. Eight terrorists were also killed during a subsequent search and clearance operation. Later, Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers.
A day later, a captain and a lieutenant were among six martyred during an exchange of fire in Hangu district. Following a series of deadly attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), on September 21, Pakistan carried out “calibrated” air strikes against terrorist hideouts near the Afghan border and conducted intelligence-based ground operations that killed a total of 37 terrorists.
Security forces conducted an intelligence-based ground operation against a group of terrorists in Kohat and Hangu districts. "As a result of precise and skilful engagement, nine khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij were sent to hell, while several were injured."