Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, said on Thursday that security forces killed 13 Indian-sponsored terrorists during two separate infiltration attempts along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In an official statement, ISPR said the militants, described as “Fitna al Khawarij,” were eliminated during operations carried out overnight. The term is used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
According to the statement, security forces detected the movement of a group attempting to cross into Pakistan in the Mohmand district. Troops engaged the group effectively, resulting in the killing of eight militants.
In a separate incident in North Waziristan, another infiltration attempt was foiled. After an intense exchange of fire, five more terrorists were killed, ISPR added.
The military said these incidents highlight Pakistan’s long-standing concerns over border management, stating that the Afghan Taliban government has failed to prevent the use of its territory for attacks inside Pakistan.
ISPR urged the Afghan authorities to take responsibility and stop militants from using Afghan soil, as well as prevent involvement of their nationals in cross-border terrorism.
The statement reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to defending the country’s borders. It added that sanitisation operations are ongoing to clear the area of any remaining militants, and that counterterrorism efforts will continue to eliminate foreign-backed threats.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist incidents since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Taliban government to dismantle militant sanctuaries, especially those linked to the TTP, but officials say these concerns have not been addressed.
Following cross-border firing by Afghan Taliban forces, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on February 26. A temporary ceasefire was observed from March 18 to 23 during Eidul Fitr, though officials later confirmed the operation would continue until its objectives are achieved.
Previously, ISPR Director General, Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, stated that Afghan forces have at times opened fire on Pakistani posts to facilitate militant infiltration.
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