By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 30 terrorists attempting to cross into the country from Afghanistan, the military said Friday, in a deadly clash in the volatile North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The operation underscores Pakistan’s persistent struggle against terrorism along its volatile western frontier, a region that has seen a surge in violence since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military detected the movement of a large group of khwarij, belonging to the Indian proxy outfit Fitna al Khawarij, on the nights of July 2 and July 3.
The infiltrators were attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan in the rugged terrain of North Waziristan. “All 30 Indian sponsored khawarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said, crediting the “precise and skillful engagement” of the security forces.
“A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij [militants],” the ISPR added. “The interim Afghan government also needs to check and prevent the use of Afghan soil by ‘foreign proxies’ for orchestrating terrorist activities against Pakistan.”
“The security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and to eradicate the menace of Indian sponsored terrorism from the country.”
President Asif Ali Zardari hailed the operation as a testament to the bravery of the security forces, vowing that the fight against terrorism would persist. “Security operations will continue until the terrorists are eliminated completely,” he said, according to a statement from the president’s office.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed that sentiment, commending the intelligence-based operation that thwarted the infiltration. “[Our] brave armed forces of Pakistan are standing like a solid wall to protect the country,” he said, as reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan. “The entire nation salutes the security forces,” he added.
The North Waziristan district has long been a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who have mounted their attacks against Pakistani security forces and checkposts, and law enforcers since late 2022, when their fragile, months-long truce broke down with Islamabad.
The TTP, long active in the border regions, has exploited the porous Pak-Afghan boundary to launch assaults, often targeting security personnel and civilians alike. Pakistan has seen a marked increase in terrorist incidents, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the TTP’s ceasefire collapse.
A May report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies documented 85 militant attacks nationwide, resulting in 113 deaths, including 52 security forces personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four peace committee members.
The military’s reference to an “Indian proxy” reflects Islamabad’s long-standing accusation that New Delhi supports militant groups to destabilise Pakistan, a charge India has consistently denied.
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