Peshawar -UNS: Reliable sources in Afghanistan have confirmed that the identities of the terrorists killed and injured in last night’s strikes have been fully verified.
According to these sources, none of the casualties were innocent civilians; all were wanted militants.
An important hideout of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) located in Koz Bahar village of Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, was hit in an airstrike.
Most wanted Terrorists identified as Shahabuddin Wazir, Dalawar, Qari Hamza, and Musa from Waziristan were killed. A local Afghan militant named Hamza was also killed, while Dil Agha was critically injured. Several other local and foreign militants remain missing.
Images taken before and after the strike have been released, showing a militant flag flying over the targeted facility.
Between Saturday and Sunday night, Pakistan carried out multiple airstrikes in Afghanistan’s border regions based on intelligence reports.
The operation was described by Pakistani authorities as an “Intelligence-Based Targeted Operation” and termed unavoidable. The strikes were conducted on the night of February 22, 2026, targeting seven suspected militant camps.
According to Pakistan, these sites were linked to Pakistani Taliban, Fitna al-Khawarij, affiliated groups, and ISIS-Khorasan, which were allegedly responsible for recent suicide bombings.
The Ministry of Information stated that the attacks were conducted at night to minimize civilian casualties. The targeted areas were located in the districts of Khogyani, Barmal (Bahsud), and Ghani Khel in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces.
Afghan officials and aid agencies claimed that dozens of people were killed or injured, including women and children.
The Afghan Red Crescent reported at least 18 deaths, while Afghan media cited more than 20 fatalities.
However, independent verification of casualty figures has not yet been possible.
Afghan government spokesmen termed the strikes a violation of international law and warned of a “measured response.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information stated that the operation targeted leadership and handlers of terrorist groups responsible for recent suicide attacks.
Pakistani officials said repeated requests had been made to the Afghan authorities under the Doha Agreement to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism, but no effective action was taken.
A federal minister stated on social media that the operation was a response to the blood of innocent martyrs.
Another minister claimed nearly 70 terrorists were neutralized, though this figure has not been independently confirmed.
The airstrikes followed recent suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu that killed civilians and security personnel. Pakistan holds militant groups operating from Afghan territory responsible for these attacks, a claim denied by the Afghan government.
While many Pakistanis termed the operation timely and justified, some criticized it as hostile toward the Afghan people.
