What is Operation Ghazab lil-Haq? Pakistan–Afghanistan conflict explained

Tehran: A major escalation has emerged between Pakistan and Afghanistan after Islamabad announced Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, a military offensive targeting Afghan Taliban-linked positions.

The operation was launched following Pakistan’s claim that Afghan forces opened “unprovoked firing” along several border sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur.

What is Operation Ghazab lil-Haq?

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq is the name given by Pakistan to a reported retaliatory military campaign launched against targets linked to Afghan Taliban positions near the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

The phrase “Ghazab lil-Haq” roughly translates from Urdu–Arabic as “wrath for justice”. Pakistani officials described it as a counter-terror response after claiming that Afghan forces opened fire across the border in several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The operation reportedly involved airstrikes and military action targeting installations in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and Nangarhar provinces, according to Pakistani state media reports. Authorities said the objective was to neutralise militant groups allegedly using Afghan territory for attacks inside Pakistan.

However, casualty figures and damage claims from both sides remain unverified, as Afghanistan has rejected Pakistan’s version of events. The operation has been described as part of the broader and long-running security tensions between the two neighbours along the Durand Line border.

Casualty claims and counter-claims

Pakistan officials reported that about 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed during the operation, while two Pakistani security personnel were reportedly killed in clashes.

However, these figures have not been independently verified, and Afghan authorities have rejected Pakistan’s claims.

The Afghan administration argues that Pakistan also hosts militant groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of using Afghan territory as a launch base.

Why the conflict matters

The escalation along the 2,611-kilometre Durand Line border raises concerns about regional stability in South Asia.

Despite previous attempts at diplomatic mediation, repeated militant attacks, airstrikes and territorial accusations have continued to strain relations between the two neighbours.

Military operations are reportedly ongoing, and both sides have issued conflicting casualty and damage assessments.
(With AFP inputs)