By Monitoring Desk
Islamabad/Kabul/Kandahar: Unconfirmed reports emerging from Afghanistan claim that the Pakistani military carried out a series of airstrikes across Kandahar Province on March 14, 2026, targeting multiple militant facilities allegedly linked to al-Qaeda, Daesh/ISIS-K, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
While no official confirmation has been issued by either the Pakistani government or the Afghan Taliban authorities, sources familiar with the situation say the strikes were focused on strategic training facilities believed to be used by transnational terrorist networks operating from southern Afghanistan.
According to preliminary information circulating in Kabul and regional security circles, the strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 100 terrorists across several locations.
One of the most significant targets reportedly struck during the operation was a cluster of training camps associated with al-Qaeda’s external operations wing. These camps are believed to have been involved in preparing militants for operations beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Information circulating in Kabul suggests that the camps had been functioning under the direct oversight of Afghan Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. However, these claims remain unverified and Afghan Taliban refused to comment when asked by foreign media living in Kabul, rejecting the claim that Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada hassed any orders to protect al-Qaeda’s external operations wing.
Security observers in Islamabad say the air strikes appear to reflect growing regional concerns about the presence of international terrorists organizations inside Afghanistan. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, several governments and intelligence agencies have repeatedly expressed fears that groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS-K could use Afghan territory as a base for training and organizing attacks.
Another key location reportedly targeted in the March 14 operation was Camp Gecko, a site historically known for its strategic significance in Kandahar. The facility, which was originally constructed during the Taliban’s first period of rule and later used by U.S. and NATO forces, has frequently been mentioned in intelligence assessments due to its large compound and military infrastructure. According to unconfirmed reports, elements affiliated with Daesh/ISIS-K were using parts of the camp for terrorist training activities at the time of the strike.
In addition to fixed-wing airstrikes, sources claim that several drone strikes were also carried out in Kandahar city and surrounding areas. One such drone strike reportedly targeted the headquarters of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in Kandahar Province. The facility, located in the Shorandam area within the city’s 5th Security District, serves as a regional intelligence hub for the Taliban administration.
Further reports indicate that another drone strike struck a training camp allegedly used jointly by Taliban elements and fighters associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The camp, identified as the Abu Dujana training facility, is said to be located near Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport and close to the Taliban’s National and Islamic Police Training Center.
The proximity of the alleged target to major civilian and security infrastructure has raised questions among analysts about the potential scale and precision of the reported strikes. However, due to the absence of official statements or independent verification, details about casualties and damage remain unclear.
Available nformation also suggests that the 205th Al-Badr Corps military garrison located inside Kandahar International Airport was struck again during the operation. The 205th Corps is one of the primary military formations under the Taliban administration responsible for security operations across southern Afghanistan. If confirmed, the reported strikes would represent one of the most extensive cross-border military actions in southern Afghanistan in recent months. Pakistan has repeatedly raised alarms about terrorist groups, particularly the TTP, of using Afghan territory as safe havens to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad has urged the Taliban authorities to take decisive action against these groups, warning that continued inaction could destabilize the region.
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Kabul have experienced periods of tension in recent years, particularly over border security and the presence of anti-Pakistan organizations in Afghan territory including BLA.
Security analysts note that the situation remains fluid, and verification from independent sources or official channels will be necessary to confirm the scale and impact of the reported strikes.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Pakistan’s military spokesperson nor officials from the Taliban administration have issued formal statements regarding destroying al-Qaeda’s camps in last evening strikes in Kandahar.
Official news released by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan is as follow:
Summary of Fitna Al Khawarij / Afghan Taliban losses
▪️684 Killed,
▪️912+ Injured
▪️252 Posts destroyed
▪️44 Posts captured and destroyed
▪️229 tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery guns destroyed
▪️73 terrorists and terrorist support infrastructure locations across Afghanistan effectively targeted by air
✅ On night March 14/15 Pakistan Armed Forces targeted military installations including terrorist hideouts of Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij.
✅ In these attacks, Pakistan’s forces also destroyed technical support infrastructure and equipment storage facility, in Kandahar, that was being used by Afghan Taliban and terrorists against innocent Pakistani civilians.
✅ A tunnel that housed technical equipment of Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij was also destroyed in Kandahar.
✅ Similarly, in Chitral Sector, a terrorist jump of point at Badini Post of Afghanistan was destroyed through ground forces.
