"The Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists," the US State Department said, adding that Washington supports Pakistan s right to respond to terrorist threats and defend itself against attacks.
The statement came after the federal government announced that 29 militants were killed during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, which involved coordinated intelligence-led operations and precision strikes.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said security forces first conducted an intelligence-based operation in Bajaur on June 29, killing four militants linked to the banned Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al-Khawarij. Among those killed was a high-value commander identified as Khan Farosh, alias Zabal.
He said the operation was followed by overnight precision strikes carried out between June 28 and 29 on militant camps and hideouts in the border areas of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar, where 25 more militants were killed. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed.
According to the government, the operations were launched in response to a series of terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the recent assault on a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) camp in Karachi.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also said security forces had shot down four rudimentary drones allegedly launched by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban administration of allowing militant groups to use Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation Kabul has denied in the past.
Pakistan s relations with the United States have improved in recent months following the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Islamabad has also played a mediatory role in diplomatic efforts related to the recent US-Iran conflict.
