Pakistan’s Operation ‘Ghazab lil-Haq’ Against Afghanistan: What the Name Means – The Times of India

Pakistan launched cross-border strikes under Operation ‘Ghazab lil-Haq’ late on Thursday evening in response to what it described as ‘unprovoked firing’ by the Afghan Taliban in multiple sectors. The action followed alleged attacks on several Pakistani border posts, with senior ministers confirming that a large-scale counter-offensive was underway.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at least 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and more than 200 wounded during the operation. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the armed forces gave a strong response to what he called aggression by the Afghan Taliban.Tarar said: “Afghan Taliban defense targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar were targeted, with the possibility of further casualties.” He added that at least 27 Afghan Taliban regime posts were destroyed and nine others were captured.

What is Operation Ghazab lil-Haq?

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq is Pakistan’s military retaliation campaign launched in response to the alleged cross-border attacks. It translates to “Righteous Anger.”Officials said the operation targeted key military installations and defensive positions of the Afghan Taliban.Tarar said the attacks destroyed two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters and more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and armored personnel carriers.State broadcaster PTV News reported that the Pakistani air force had attacked key Taliban military installations in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia. In response, Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, the 2,611-kilometer border between the two countries that has never been officially recognized by Afghanistan.In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8 p.m. on the 9th of Ramadan, which corresponds to February 26, in response to what it described days earlier as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani forces.“A few days ago, Pakistani military circles with great audacity violated Afghan territory, violated our borders and tortured women and children here,” the statement said.The ministry said Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line near Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan provinces.It further stated that the four-hour operation resulted in the destruction of two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four other posts. The ministry also claimed that an enemy tank had been destroyed and a large military transport vehicle had been captured.