ISLAMABAD(The COW News Digital) Pakistani fighter jets continued aerial patrols over Kandahar following a series of airstrikes carried out under Operation Zarb-ul-Haq, launched in response to what officials described as Afghan aggression along the border.
Security sources said Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft were seen flying over Kandahar after completing targeted strikes against identified military objectives. According to officials, no significant resistance was encountered during the patrol missions, suggesting that opposing forces had pulled back from exposed positions.
“The patrol flights were conducted to maintain aerial dominance and monitor any potential movement,” a security official said, adding that the situation remained under close observation.
Read More:
The latest developments come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban authorities. Islamabad has stated that the operation was initiated after alleged cross-border firing incidents in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials maintain that the response was aimed at safeguarding Pakistan’s territorial integrity and deterring further incursions.
Security sources claimed that the ongoing operation has inflicted heavy losses on Afghan Taliban forces. According to figures shared by officials, 133 personnel have been killed and more than 200 injured since the start of the campaign. Strikes reportedly targeted defensive and command installations in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar, though independent confirmation of these claims was not immediately available.
During the course of the operation, 27 border posts were said to have been destroyed, while nine others were taken over. Military officials further stated that two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, three battalion headquarters and two sector headquarters were struck in coordinated air operations. Two ammunition depots and a logistics base were also reportedly destroyed.
In addition, more than 80 tanks, artillery guns and armored personnel carriers were claimed to have been neutralized during the strikes. Officials described the campaign as precise and intelligence-driven, emphasizing that the objective was to eliminate hostile capabilities without escalating the conflict further.
Pakistan’s armed forces, according to security officials, remain fully prepared to respond to any additional aggression. Authorities reiterated that defensive readiness has been strengthened across sensitive border regions.
There was no immediate response from Afghan authorities regarding the reported patrols or damage assessments.
Analysts warn that continued hostilities could risk broader instability in the region, underscoring the need for diplomatic channels to remain open even as military tensions persist.
