ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to receive a detailed briefing from Pakistan’s military leadership on the ongoing situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

During the visit, the prime minister stressed zero tolerance against what he termed the alliance between the Afghan Taliban regime and militant groups targeting Pakistan, calling their actions unacceptable.

He praised the country’s security forces, led by Syed Asim Munir, for remaining fully prepared to safeguard national sovereignty.

Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan is capable of defending itself against any aggression and lauded the armed forces for what he described as a professional response to recent cross-border attacks.

“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Armed Forces in defence of the homeland,” he said.

The GHQ visit followed heavy cross-border firing between Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban after Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, in which officials said 274 Taliban fighters were killed and 115 tanks, armoured and artillery vehicles were destroyed along with 73 border posts.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the prime minister had been briefed on Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shortly before the media interaction.

“The purpose of the briefing was to inform the prime minister in detail about Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” he said, adding that the strikes carried out on the night of February 21–22 targeted militant hideouts after Afghan Taliban forces opened fire at 53 locations in 15 sectors.

“Wherever attacks were launched from, Pakistan responded in a manner the world has seen,” he said, alleging backing of militants involved in attacks inside Pakistan.

He added that 18 Taliban posts were now under Pakistan’s control and more than 400 militants were wounded during the operation. Air strikes were conducted at 22 locations in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar and Khost, targeting positions linked to militant groups.

During the GHQ visit, the prime minister reiterated that actions by the Afghan Taliban regime and allied militants against Pakistan were unacceptable and vowed a firm response to any future aggression.