Islamabad / Kabul – Fresh reports from Islamabad and Kabul indicate that Pakistan’s air force recently carried out a targeted operation in southern Afghanistan, focusing on a highly secured Taliban compound in Kandahar. According to security sources cited by media outlets, the operation was aimed at eliminating Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
The strike reportedly took place early Friday morning and targeted a fortified area inside Camp Gecko, a location believed to be one of the Taliban leadership’s key facilities in the region.
Casualties Reported After the Attack
Initial information from local sources suggests that at least 22 people were killed in the airstrike, while more than 50 others suffered injuries. The attack is said to have penetrated the outer defensive perimeter of the Taliban compound, indicating a carefully planned military operation.
However, there has been no official confirmation yet regarding whether Akhundzada himself was present at the site during the strike.
Kandhar: The Power Center of the Taliban
Although Afghanistan’s government operations are formally run from Kabul, Kandhar has long remained the ideological and strategic heart of the Taliban movement. The city was also the base of the Taliban’s founder Mullah Omar, and Akhundzada is believed to have maintained his base there as well.
Security observers have also noted increased aerial activity over Kandahar during the past two days, suggesting that military movements in the region had intensified before the strike.
Uncertainty Over Akhundzada’s Status
While the compound hit in the operation was reportedly the same place where Akhundzada had been staying temporarily in recent weeks, there is still no clear confirmation about his condition or whereabouts following the strike.
Analysts say that if it is confirmed that the Taliban leader was indeed present during the attack, the incident could escalate tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, potentially leading to further instability in the region.
