DND Report
On February 21, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based, selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban (Fitna al-Khwarij – FAK), their affiliated groups, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) in the border regions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. These operations were executed with precision and accuracy to neutralize imminent threats to Pakistan’s security.
International reports, including assessments by the United Nations Monitoring Team, as well as security briefings and intelligence disclosures from the United States and Russia, have consistently confirmed that terrorists linked to global militant networks are operating from Afghan territory. These reports further indicate that Afghan Taliban authorities have failed to dismantle these networks and, in many cases, have been accused of funding, hosting, equipping, or facilitating terrorist organizations targeting Pakistan and other countries.
Pakistan has repeatedly shared irrefutable intelligence with friendly and partner states including Russia, the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates demonstrating the direct involvement of Afghan-based terrorist leadership in cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. Despite this, certain Gulf countries urged Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid retaliatory action against Afghan-based terrorist infrastructure while Afghan terrorists were bleeding Pakistan every passing day. In good faith and in the interest of regional stability, Pakistan accepted requests for restraint and observed ceasefire arrangements. However, terrorism originating from Afghanistan continued unabated, inflicting heavy civilian and security force casualties inside Pakistan, despite repeated assurances from friendly countries and commitments made by the Afghan Taliban.
By targeting terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan on February 21, Pakistan conveyed a loud and unambiguous message, not only to Afghanistan but also to the international community that Pakistan will not accept perpetual bleeding at the hands of Afghan-based terrorists under the guise of restraint. Pakistan made it clear that it reserves the right to respond decisively to terrorism and will adopt a policy of hot pursuit when necessary to protect its citizens.
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NRF senior member Fazal Ahmad Manawi has backed Pakistani airstrikes against the Taliban, saying that “We welcome every stone that hits the head of a Talib” pic.twitter.com/DGYibd800g
— NRF Updates (@NRFUpdates) February 22, 2026
Global security assessments and international reporting further confirm that terrorists operating from Afghanistan and even in bordering regions such as Bajaur routinely use women and children from their own families as human shields. This tactic is employed deliberately to restrict counter-terrorism operations and to manufacture propaganda narratives portraying legitimate security actions as attacks on civilians. The use of families as human shields has long been a traditional modus operandi of Afghan groups, documented in regional conflict reporting and acknowledged in multiple international counter-terrorism analyses.
Pakistan has categorically rejected this strategy of deception and has stated that it will no longer allow terrorists to operate with impunity after attacking Pakistani civilians and security forces while hiding behind their families.
In the aftermath of recent suicide bombing incidents in Pakistan including attacks on an Imam Bargah in Islamabad, one each in Bajaur and Bannu, followed by another incident in Bannu during the holy month of Ramzan, Pakistan has conclusive evidence that these acts of terrorism were perpetrated by Khwarij (TTP terrorists) on the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.
Responsibility for these attacks was claimed by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban belonging to Fitna al-Khwarij (FAK), their affiliates, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
Despite Pakistan’s repeated efforts to urge the Afghan Taliban regime to take verifiable and effective measures to deny the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups and foreign proxies, the Afghan Taliban regime has failed to undertake any substantive action against these elements.
Pakistan has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region. However, the safety and security of the people of Pakistan remain the foremost priority. In this backdrop, Pakistan, in a retributive response, carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to FAK, its affiliates, and ISKP in the border regions along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier, with precision and accuracy.
Pakistan is targeting Afghan Taliban targets, this is a direct confrontation with illegal Kabul regime. pic.twitter.com/09GKneyIEc
— National Resistance Front (NRF) (@NRFMediaCell) February 21, 2026
Pakistan reiterates its expectation that the Interim Afghan Government will fulfill its obligations by denying the use of its soil by Khwarij and terrorist groups against Pakistan. Pakistan also calls upon the international community to play a positive and constructive role by urging the Taliban regime to honor its commitments under the Doha Agreement, including denying the use of Afghan territory against other states—an essential requirement for regional and global peace and security.
The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed that certain military circles in Pakistan had violated Afghan territory. He alleged that Pakistani military actions in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children.
Pakistan has rejected these allegations, asserting that terrorist groups deliberately embed themselves within civilian populations and among their own families to exploit civilian casualties for propaganda purposes, a practice widely documented in international counter-terrorism reporting.
