ISLAMABAD, Mar 15: Pakistan carried out overnight strikes in Afghanistan's Kandahar province targeting what it described as "terrorist hideouts and military infrastructure", as cross-border tensions intensified and humanitarian agencies warned of rising displacement and hunger.
State-run Pakistan Television reported on Sunday that the strikes were conducted as part of Operation Ghazablil-Haq, launched in late February after what Islamabad described as unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.
"Pakistan armed forces have successfully targeted military installations, including terrorist hideouts of Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij," Pakistan TV quoted the sources as saying.
"Operations under Operation Ghazablil-Haq will continue until attainment of objectives," security sources were quoted as saying.
The latest strikes come after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly launched several rudimentary drones late Friday evening, injuring at least four people, including two children.
The Foreign Office on Sunday rejected criticism from India's Ministry of External Affairs, which had claimed that Pakistan's cross-border strikes had resulted in civilian casualties and described them as an act of aggression.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi dismissed the remarks as "absurd, unwarranted and shamefully hypocritical".
He said Pakistan's actions were "legitimate, targeted and precise" operations against terrorist hideouts and support bases inside Afghanistan.
Andrabi also alleged that India actively supports militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including those referred to by Pakistan as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
The former term refers to militants belonging to the banned TTP, while Fitna al-Hindustan is used by Pakistan to describe militant organisations operating in Balochistan.
"India's frustration at the destruction of its terrorist franchise in Afghanistan, as reflected in such statements, is quite understandable," the spokesperson said.
The statement further accused India of violating international law and continuing its control over what Pakistan describes as Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
"India has not only played the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan, but also in the entire region," the FO added. "DAWN
