274 ‘Afghan Terrorists’ Killed In Strikes, Says Pak Army Spokesperson

Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, said at least 274 Afghan militants were killed in Pakistan’s strikes inside Afghanistan.

Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, said at least 274 Afghan militants were killed in Pakistan’s strikes inside Afghanistan.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Chaudhry said Pakistani forces destroyed 73 Taliban posts and seized control of 18 others.
He added that more than 400 militants were wounded in the attacks.
Chaudhry also said at least 115 Taliban tanks and other armoured military vehicles were destroyed.

Shehbaz Sharif visited Pakistan’s army headquarters as clashes with the Taliban continued, reaffirming what he described as a zero-tolerance policy towards militant groups.
During a meeting with senior military officials, Sharif said Islamabad would not accept what he characterised as cooperation between the Afghan Taliban and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
He described the actions of the Afghan Taliban and the TTP as unacceptable and said Pakistan would respond firmly to any threats.
Sharif met with Asim Munir and other members of the military leadership. He said the entire nation stood alongside the country’s armed forces.
The army chief briefed the prime minister on the latest developments in the ongoing clashes.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, warned Pakistan against actions that he said could prompt the group to declare what he described as a national uprising and jihad.
Speaking on Friday at the grand mosque in Khost Province, Haqqani said that if such an uprising were declared against Pakistan, the country would face serious consequences.
He said the Taliban would not stand aside but would be on the front lines alongside the people in defence of Afghanistan.
Haqqani also called on regional and international actors to help facilitate dialogue, saying the door to negotiations remained open.
In another part of his speech, he stressed the importance of unity and cohesion among Taliban members.
Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban had carried out drone strikes on several Pakistani cities and warned that continued fighting could destabilise the region.
Referring to reported drone attacks in Islamabad, Mujahid said Pakistan had realised that Afghans could strike back. He claimed Taliban drone strikes on Islamabad, Nowshera and Abbottabad were successfully conducted.
He also alleged that Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft were operating in Afghan airspace and said Pakistani fighter jets carried out strikes on Friday in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost and Kunar. According to Mujahid, civilians were harmed in those attacks.
Speaking at an online news conference on Friday, Mujahid warned that further escalation would undermine regional stability and called on neighbouring countries to halt what he described as Pakistan’s military aggression.
While emphasising the group’s stated commitment to diplomacy, he said Pakistan was unwilling to resolve the dispute through dialogue. He rejected Pakistani officials’ assertions that civilians had not been targeted and claimed Taliban forces had struck military sites with precision.
Mujahid also dismissed allegations by Pakistani officials that the Taliban were engaged in proxy warfare on behalf of India, saying the group had no history of acting as a proxy force. He accused Pakistan of pursuing foreign-backed projects aimed at destabilising the region.
He claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in border clashes the previous day and said the bodies of some were in Taliban custody. Mujahid added that 13 Taliban fighters were also killed in the fighting.
China expressed concern over escalating border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, while reaffirming its support for efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the parties to implement an immediate ceasefire.
The remarks were made on Friday, 27 February, during a regular press briefing following an intensification of armed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The ministry said the latest clashes appeared more intense than previous incidents and warned that any continuation or escalation would harm both sides.
China urged the parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and said it stands ready to use its diplomatic channels to help ease tensions.
Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s former minister for information and broadcasting, said Islamabad needs the support of China, Iran and Russia to bring about political change in Kabul.
He said the establishment of what he described as a moderate system in Afghanistan would benefit all neighbouring countries. Chaudhry warned that if the conflict ends without meaningful consequences, it would fuel further militancy from Afghan soil.
In a post on X, the former Pakistani official said the continuation of the current situation poses a danger to all neighbouring states.
He called for a joint regional strategy to address shared security challenges.