Khost & Nangarhar, Afghanistan — August 28, 2025 (Khyber Mail) – Pakistan carried out a series of precision airstrikes early Thursday targeting militant hideouts of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in eastern Afghanistan, marking a significant escalation in its cross-border counterterrorism campaign.
According to intelligence sources and regional media reports, the strikes focused on Spera district in Khost and Shinwaru district in Nangarhar, areas known for harboring insurgent networks. The operation reportedly involved armed drones and precision-guided missiles, with surveillance flights preceding the attacks.
Defense analysts believe Pakistan likely deployed its indigenously developed Burraq and Shahpar-II drones, capable of real-time intelligence gathering and surgical strikes. These platforms have previously been used in operations against militant groups in Pakistan’s tribal belt.
Initial reports suggest heavy casualties among TTP operatives, though local sources indicate that civilian deaths, including women and children, may have occurred—raising concerns about collateral damage and prompting calls for independent verification.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan accusing Afghan authorities of failing to curb cross-border militant activity. Pakistani officials reportedly informed the Taliban-led Afghan government prior to the operation, though no formal statement has been issued by either side.
This latest offensive follows a surge in attacks inside Pakistan attributed to TTP and BLA factions, including recent ambushes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The Pakistani military has vowed to dismantle insurgent infrastructure and prevent further incursions.
As of Thursday afternoon, no official casualty figures have been released. The Foreign Office in Islamabad has yet to comment, and Afghan authorities have not confirmed the extent of the damage.