Pakistan’s Federal Information Minister, Atta Tarar, has stated that counter-terrorism operations against Afghanistan’s Taliban regime are ongoing, and a threat exists that necessitates a solution. In an interview with Geo News, Tarar emphasized that Pakistan has taken effective and comprehensive retaliatory action, which is still ongoing. The Information Minister highlighted that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan provides support to terrorists and asserted that the ongoing operations against the Taliban remain active, with the Air Defense System having downed an Afghan terrorist drone.
Tarar further stated that a threat exists that requires a solution, and that dealing with the Taliban is a matter of concern, as they are linked to terrorist organizations in Afghanistan. The Minister emphasized that Pakistan is actively neutralizing the problem and that Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is ongoing, with the country having responded to cross-border attacks and terrorist activities. He also mentioned that the recent drone strikes in Pakistan have exposed the alliance between Afghan terrorists and the Taliban regime, as all terrorist activities in Pakistan are linked to Afghanistan.
Following the attack on Iran, the Pakistani government has issued a warning to its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the country. The Ministry of Information has also clarified that the image circulating on social media, showing a Russian plane in Turkey, is from 2021 and is being used by the Taliban regime to spread propaganda and false claims.
The Pakistani government has enhanced security measures in and around Karachi International Airport, and the Iranian ambassador has confirmed that Iran has been attacked. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement refuting Afghanistan’s claim that Pakistan had shot down an Iranian plane.
In response to the tensions in the region, the Pakistani government has tightened its air traffic control measures, ensuring strict monitoring of the country’s airspace. In a related development, 83 Afghan nationals were arrested by law enforcement agencies in various parts of the country, including the capital Islamabad, for being in the country illegally.
Pakistani forces have launched airstrikes in Afghanistan, targeting a Taliban post in the Qandahar region and another in the Nangarhar province’s Mihmandara Valley. In the Khyber district, the Pakistani military has launched a ground operation against an Afghan post, killing four terrorists, including two senior Taliban commanders.
In other developments, the High Court Bar Association has announced that over 32,400 lawyers will exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of dry weather in Karachi and Lahore by the end of February.
