Islamabad: Security forces thwarted major infiltration attempts by terrorists from across the Afghan border in the Kurram and North Waziristan districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), killing 25 militants including four suicide bombers, the military said on Sunday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistani troops effectively engaged multiple groups of infiltrators. However, during the fierce exchange of fire, five soldiers embraced martyrdom.
The statement added that these infiltration attempts by Fitna al-Khawarij — a term used for militants linked to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — came at a time when Pakistan and Afghanistan delegations were engaged in talks in Turkiye.
The ISPR said movements of two large groups of Khawarij were detected opposite the general areas of Ghaki in Kurram and Spinwam in North Waziristan as they tried to infiltrate across the border. Troops swiftly responded and, after precise and skilful engagements, killed 15 terrorists including four suicide bombers in Spinwam, and 10 more in Ghaki.
During the gun battle, five soldiers were martyred while fighting gallantly. They were identified as Havildar Manzoor Hussain (35) of Ghizar District, Sepoy Nauman Ilyas Kiyani (23) of Poonch District, Sepoy Muhammad Adil (24) of Kasur District, Sepoy Shah Jehan (25) of Vehari District, and Sepoy Ali Asghar (25) of Pakpattan District.
A large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the slain militants.
The ISPR said the timing of these infiltration attempts casts serious doubts on the Interim Afghan Government’s commitment to preventing terrorist activities from its soil, despite assurances under the Doha Agreement.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to ensure effective border management and stop the use of Afghan soil by the Khawarij against Pakistan.
The military reaffirmed that sanitisation operations were ongoing to eliminate any remaining militants, reiterating its commitment to defending the country’s frontiers.
The sacrifices of our brave soldiers only strengthen our national resolve, the ISPR said, vowing that the Azm-e-Istehkam counterterrorism campaign would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism.
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