Pakistan claims killing 80 militants in recent airstrikes on Afghanistan; Chaudhry says national security non-negotiable

KABUL — Daniel Chaudhry, a Pakistani member of parliament and parliamentary secretary for information, stated that national security is non-negotiable following recent airstrikes on Afghanistan.

The Danish newspaper Dawn reported on Monday, citing its sources, that approximately 80 militants were killed in an overnight attack. No evidence has been provided to substantiate the claim of 80 militants killed, though Pakistani media outlets have published the figure.

Chaudhry added: "Pakistan has always chosen the path of dialogue and peaceful coexistence, but when Afghan soil continues to be used for proxy attacks, we have no choice but to defend our territory."

He said the recent airstrikes followed a suicide attack in Islamabad and the killing of 11 Pakistani soldiers on February 16 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Chaudhry called on the Taliban to prevent attacks by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghan soil.

Pakistani media reported that the Taliban have banned media coverage of the targeted positions.

Pakistan's Ministry of Information announced that seven positions in Paktika, Nangarhar, and Khost provinces were targeted.