RAWALPINDI; The Pakistan Army announced on Monday that at least three terrorists were killed in two separate operations carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces detected the movement of a group of militants, referred to as khawarij, attempting to infiltrate into Pakistan from across the Afghan border in the general area of Esham, North Waziristan.
“The security forces engaged the group effectively, and as a result of precise and skilful action, two khawarij belonging to the Indian proxy network ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ were eliminated,” the ISPR said.
It added that one of the slain terrorists was identified as Qasim, an Afghan national who previously served in the Afghan Border Police.
In a separate intelligence-based operation (IBO) in KP’s Tank district, another terrorist was killed. The militant was identified as Ikramuddin alias Abu Dajana, also an Afghan national.
“These incidents highlight the continued involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist activities targeting innocent civilians and security forces within Pakistan,” the military’s media wing said.
The statement further urged the interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management and prevent the use of its territory by khawarij and other groups involved in cross-border terrorism.
“Pakistan expects the Afghan authorities to fulfill their obligations and prevent their citizens from participating in terrorist attacks against Pakistan,” the ISPR stated.
The army reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remain “resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers.” A sanitisation operation has been launched in the area to ensure the elimination of any remaining Indian-backed militants.
Last week, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) deputy chief, Amjad alias Mazahim, was killed in a separate IBO. Amjad was known to be a close aide of TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud and headed the group’s Rehbari Shura.
Pakistan continues to face a surge in terrorism, particularly in KP and Balochistan, where police, law enforcement personnel, and security forces are frequently targeted. The rise in attacks follows the breakdown of the ceasefire between the government and the TTP in 2022.
