Pakistan Strikes Terror Camps in Afghanistan, Operation Retribution

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) conducted a series of “intelligence-based” airstrikes targeting seven terrorist sanctuaries in eastern Afghanistan. The operation, centered in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces, targeted the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—referred to by the state as Fitna al-Khawarij—and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP).

The Military Operation: 80+ Casualties

According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and military sources, the strikes were high-precision hits on specific training centers and logistical bases.

• 
  Death Toll: Pakistani security sources confirmed more than 80 terrorists were killed.
• The Catalyst: The strikes were a “retributive response” to a wave of suicide bombings during Ramadan 2026, including:
  • The Feb 6 bombing of a Shia mosque in Islamabad (31 martyrs).
  • The Feb 16 attack in Bajaur (11 soldiers martyred).
  • The Feb 21 suicide blast in Bannu (killing a Lt. Colonel and a soldier).

Diplomatic Fallout & Kabul’s Response

The Taliban-led interim Afghan government has reacted with fury, summoning Pakistan’s ambassador and labeling the strikes a “provocative act” and a “blatant violation of sovereignty.”

• Kabul’s Claim: Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the strikes hit civilian residential areas and a religious seminary, killing at least 18 people, including women and children.
• Pakistan’s Counter: Islamabad dismissed these claims as a “false and malicious narrative,” asserting that terrorists routinely use non-combatants as human shields and that the strikes targeted verified military targets with “conclusive evidence” of cross-border handler activity.
• Warning: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry issued a stern warning: “Whoever looks at us with evil intent, we will destroy them, and no one will be spared.”

The “Failed” Qatar-Mediated Ceasefire

These strikes effectively end the fragile peace established by a Qatar-mediated ceasefire in October 2025.

1. October 2025: Deadly border clashes (23 Pakistani soldiers and 200+ Taliban killed) led to a temporary truce.
2. January-February 2026: A massive resurgence in TTP activity—including plans for a “TTP Air Force” using commercial drones—strained the agreement.
3. The Result: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had warned on Feb 19 that Pakistan would “not hesitate” to strike across the border if the Taliban regime failed to fulfill its Doha Agreement obligations.

Strategic Shift: “No Restraint”

The ISPR and Ministry of Information have signaled a shift in Pakistan’s border policy, stating that operations will now continue “irrespective of location.” This follows reports that the Bajaur suicide bomber was a member of the Afghan Taliban’s special forces from Balkh province, providing Islamabad with what it calls “irrefutable proof” of state-backed militancy.

You May Like To Read:

• Lt. Col. Shahzada Gul Faraz Among Two Martyrs in Bannu Attack
• Bajaur Suicide Bomber Revealed as Afghan National with Taliban Special Forces Background
• CTD Kills 14 Suspected Militants in Quetta and Barkhan Raids