ISLAMABAD : 22 Feb 2026 – Pakistan at midnight 21/22 Feb has conducted intelligence based air surgical strikes inside Afghanistan at different places targeting 7 hideouts and camps of terrorists of Daesh Khorasan after a spat of suicide and terrorist attacks in Islamabad, KPK and Balochistan.
Government of Pakistan has confirmed the strikes in two phases in which dozens of terrorists were hit and 7 camps have been destroyed. The number of the terrorists killed is not known preliminarily. Afghan media also has confirmed the strikes and international media confirmed 17 deaths at one place in Behsud of Nangarhar.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had already warned Afghanistan about the strikes as Pakistan had to face consecutive terrorist attacks using Afghan soil.
He declared on Wednesday that Pakistan would not hesitate to launch additional air strikes inside Afghanistan should the Kabul administration fail to take decisive action against militant groups operating from its territory.
Asif explicitly linked ongoing terrorist incidents in Pakistan to what he described as tacit approval from the Afghan government, asserting that such attacks carry the blessings of authorities in Kabul.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement on X that the country’s military conducted “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps and hideouts belonging to the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and its affiliates.
An affiliate of the Islamic State group was also targeted in the border region, it said.
The ministry said it had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks in Islamabad, as well as in the northwestern Bajaur and Bannu districts, were perpetrated by fighters “on behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers”.
It said Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government to take action to prevent armed groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks, but that Kabul has failed to “undertake any substantive action”.
Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region”, it added, but said the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remained its top priority.
“The Pakistanis continue to insist that these are intelligence-based operations against camps located inside Afghanistan and hideouts of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliate groups. It has warned the Afghan authorities on several occasions that they gave their commitment in the Doha agreement that Afghan soil will not be used by any other country,” Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder said, referring to the 2020 agreement Taliban signed with the United States, in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Pakistan has mentioned that the strikes carried out after suicide attacks in Bajaur and Bannu. Pakistan has been hit continuously in last three weeks from attacks in Balochistan to blast in Imambargah in Islamabad.
Pakistan attacked hideouts in Bermal area of Paktika province near border where the infrastructure of the terrorists was destroyed. Another hideout was hit in Khogiyani district of Nangarhaar province. Pakistani jets hit some hideouts in Paktia and Khost as well.
ISPR has not issued any statement till this report was filed. Associated Press of Pakistan and many TV Chennel were also silent till 2-30 AM on 22 Feb 2026.
Pakistan, two days ago, issued a demarche to the Taliban regime over the use of Afghan soil for a terrorist attack on security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur that martyred 11 soldiers.
The demarche was issued on Wednesday afternoon when the FO summoned the Afghan deputy head of mission.
“Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the vehicle-borne suicide terrorist attack followed by a fire raid on Pakistan military and law enforcement agencies’ posts in Bajaur, carried out by Fitna al Khawarij [or] the TTP,” the statement said.
On 21 February, in a cowardly attack, Security Forces convoy was targeted by Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij in Bannu District while an intelligence based operation was being conducted on reported presence of Khwarij including a suicide bomber.
A vehicle borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading group, foiling his nefarious design to target innocent civilians/ Law enforcement personnel in Bannu City, averting major catastrophe. During the conduct of operation, khwarij were located and after intense fire exchange, 5 khwarij were sent to hell by the security forces. However, in desperation, Khwarij rammed the explosive laden vehicle into one of the vehicles of the leading group.
Resultantly, Lt Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz (age: 43 years, resident of District Manshera), a brave commanding officer renowned for his daring actions, who was leading his troops from the front embraced shahadat alongwith Sepoy Karamat Shah (age: 28 years, resident of District Peshawar).
On 16 February 2026, a cowardly terrorist attack was attempted on Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies Joint Check Post in Bajaur District by Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.
The assailants sought to breach the check post security; however, their nefarious designs were swiftly and decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of Pakistan’s security forces. Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, our valiant troops engaged the fleeing khwarij with precision, eliminating twelve khwarij.
In their desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. Due to blast impact infrastructure at Check post collapsed resultantly 11 brave sons of soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat.
Tragically, civilian residential buildings in close proximity also suffered severe destruction as a result of explosion, leading to the martyrdom of one innocent young girl and injuries to seven others including women and children.
On 06 February, another suicide bomber detonated his explosives during noon prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area, killing at least 31 worshippers and wounding 170 others. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Islamabad attack.
Editor Tazeen Akhtar has shared his opinion on the strikes as ;
Pakistan has full right to hit the terrorists who target soldiers and citizens inside Pakistan from across the border. Taliban regime does not have control on whole Afghanistan. They are neither able nor willing to take any action against the terrorists. Pakistan exercised more than necessary patienence so far. Now hard steps should be taken from Pakistan side to end this menace of cross border terrorism. And Taliban have no justification to protest on the strikes because they are not doing their duty towards the neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.
