Islamabad, February 22, 2026: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Sunday said that, according to reports received so far, around 70 terrorists have been killed in Pakistan’s retaliatory action against terrorist elements operating from Afghanistan.
Speaking to a private television channel, Talal Chaudhry said that Pakistan is a responsible state that has consistently sought to maintain peaceful and cooperative relations with its neighbours. However, he added, terrorism has been exported from Afghanistan for a long time, posing a serious threat to Pakistan’s security.
The minister said Pakistan is taking all necessary measures to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens, noting that large-scale counterterrorism operations are also continuing within the country. He stated that nearly 70,000 intelligence-based operations have been conducted so far, resulting in the arrest of numerous suspects and the killing of many terrorists.
Talal Chaudhry said the operation in Afghanistan was carried out in this broader security context. He explained that the action targeted three different locations across seven sites, and based on the latest information, approximately 70 terrorists were killed.
He further said there is substantial evidence indicating that the majority of the slain terrorists were Pakistani nationals. The minister accused Afghanistan’s interim government of failing to fulfill its responsibilities, adding that under the Doha Agreement, Afghanistan had assured the international community that its soil would not be used for terrorism against other countries.
“Despite these commitments, Afghanistan has failed to take effective steps to curb terrorism,” Talal Chaudhry said, reiterating that Pakistan would continue to take decisive action to protect its national security.
