Pakistan Army Says 15 Militants Killed in North Waziristan Infiltration Bid

Pakistan's military announced on Thursday that its security forces had killed 15 militants attempting to cross into the country from Afghanistan. The operation took place in North Waziristan, a district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after the infiltrators were detected on Tuesday. The military said an exchange of fire continued for 36 hours.

The army identified those killed as members of "Fitna al-Khawarij," a term used by Pakistani authorities for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In its statement, the military also alleged that the militants were sponsored by India, a claim that New Delhi has routinely denied.

Pakistan's acting President, Yousaf Raza Gilani, commended the security forces for thwarting the infiltration attempt. He asserted that militants backed by India would not be allowed to disrupt Pakistan's peace and stability, adding that counterterrorism operations would persist until terrorism is eliminated.

The incident highlights ongoing friction along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan of harboring TTP leaders and fighters since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, an allegation the Afghan government denies. The military's statement reinforced this position, asserting that the Afghan Taliban government has "consistently failed to ensure effective border management."

The latest clash comes amid a surge in militant violence in Pakistan. It follows a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry indicating that progress in bilateral ties with Afghanistan depends on verifiable actions from Kabul. A Chinese envoy recently visited Islamabad to help ease tensions, but Pakistan has stated that improved relations require written assurances that Afghan soil will not be used for attacks against it.