Pakistan’s armed forces have carried out strikes on seven alleged militant camps and hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, in what officials described as a retaliatory response to a series of recent suicide bombings, local media Dawn reports.

In a statement issued early on February 22 via social media, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the targets belonged to the Pakistani Taliban, referred to by the state as Fitna al Khwarij, and its affiliates, as well as to Islamic State – Khorasan Province.

Fitna al Khawarij is the term used by the authorities in Pakistan for militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The Taliban has reportedly said dozens have been killed.

According to the statement, the action followed a string of suicide attacks in Pakistan, including an incident at an Imam Bargah in Islamabad, as well as attacks in Bajaur and Bannu. A further bombing was reported in Bannu during the holy month of Ramadan.

The government in Pakistan has said it possessed conclusive evidence that the attacks had been carried out by militants acting on the instructions of Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers. Responsibility for the assaults was claimed by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban elements affiliated with Fitna al Khwarij, as well as by Islamic State – Khorasan Province.

Islamabad said it had consistently sought to maintain regional peace and stability in the region, but that the safety and security of its citizens remained of paramount importance. Dawn adds that the strikes on the seven sites were described as a retributive response based on intelligence-led, selective targeting.

The statement went on to say that, despite repeated requests from Pakistan urging the Afghan Taliban authorities to take verifiable steps to prevent Afghan territory from being used by militant groups and foreign proxies to launch attacks inside Pakistan, no substantive action had been taken.

Pakistan has again called on the interim Afghan government to meet its obligations and ensure that its soil was not used by militants against Pakistan, stressing that the protection of its population was its foremost priority. It also urged the international community to press the Taliban authorities to honour their commitments under the Doha Agreement to prevent the use of Afghan territory against other countries, describing this as essential for regional and global security.