Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday termed the use of Afghan soil by the Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for terrorism against Pakistan “unacceptable”, warning that all necessary measures would be taken to neutralise the threat emanating from across the border.

A press release from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the field marshal visited Wana in South Waziristan to review the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness along the Western border.

Pakistan is currently waging ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ that was launched late on Thursday after renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, when Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation. The neighbours have clashed along the frontier since last week, when Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes.

The ISPR said the field marshal was given a comprehensive briefing on the security environment, ongoing intelligence-based operations and measures in place for border management. He was also briefed in detail on the ongoing operation and recent developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“The field marshal emphasised that use of Afghan soil by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for acts of terrorism against Pakistan was unacceptable and all necessary measures would be taken to neutralise the threat emanating from across the border. The field marshal reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations,” the ISPR said.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while Fitna al Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist organisations in Balochistan.

Interacting with officers and troops deployed in forward areas, CDF Munir commended their “professionalism, operational vigilance and high morale” during the ongoing skirmishes. He also lauded their steadfast commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Appreciating the Pakistan Army’s operational preparedness, the field marshal expressed full confidence in the combat readiness, synergy and resilience of formations deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Read: 481 Afghan Taliban killed, 226 checkposts destroyed as Operation Ghazab Lil Haq enters seventh day

CDF Munir was received upon arrival by the Peshawar Corps commander. He also laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs Monument to pay homage to those who had sacrificed themselves for the country. He offered prayers and reaffirmed that the sacrifices of martyrs remained the cornerstone of Pakistan’s security and resilience.

On Monday, a senior Pakistani security official said that “Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq” would continue until the Afghan Taliban government provided a guarantee that it would stop facilitating terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.

The official said the Afghan Taliban “will have to decide whether they stand with Pakistan or with the terrorist groups operating from their soil”.

So far, Pakistani security forces have killed 481 Afghan Taliban combatants and destroyed 226 checkposts during the operation. More than 696 Afghan operatives were injured, 198 tanks and armoured vehicles were destroyed, 35 Afghan posts were captured, and 56 locations across Afghanistan were successfully targeted in air strikes.

Islamabad said its February air strikes that sparked the escalation were targeting terrorists. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against terrorist groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, a claim the Taliban government rejects. The border fighting has affected multiple Afghan provinces.

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The violence of recent days is the worst since the October fighting that killed more than 70 people on both sides, with land borders between the neighbours largely closed since.

Tensions also surged after a series of explosions in Kabul on October 9 last year. Taliban forces subsequently targeted areas along Pakistan’s border, prompting Islamabad to respond with cross-border shelling. The exchanges caused casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides and led to the suspension of trade after border crossings were closed on October 12, 2025.