Pakistan's military operation against militants in Afghanistan will continue until Islamabad receives "verifiable assurance" that groups targeting Pakistan have been eliminated, a senior security official said. The operation, now in its sixth day, follows retaliatory attacks by the Taliban government after Pakistan launched air strikes on militant targets. Pakistan declared "open war" with Afghanistan and expanded strikes to military facilities in Kabul.

Dozens have been killed in the fighting, with Pakistan destroying about 180 militant locations and capturing over 30. The security official emphasized that Islamabad is targeting militant sanctuaries and facilitation infrastructure, not civilians. Pakistan seeks to eliminate militant groups operating from Afghan territory rather than pursuing regime change in Kabul.

The conflict highlights deteriorating relations between the two nations since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Pakistan initially supported the Taliban takeover, hoping the new government would help control Islamist militants. Instead, groups like the Pakistani Taliban have intensified their insurgency, with a recent mosque bombing in Islamabad killing at least 31 people.