Pakistan's security forces have eliminated 13 militants this week who attempted to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the country's northwestern region, the military's media wing confirmed on Thursday. The operations underscore Pakistan's resolve to defend its frontiers against external threats.
Details of the incidents
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both incidents occurred during April 28-29. The first operation took place in the Mohmand District, where security forces killed eight members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group as they tried to cross the border. The second incident unfolded in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where five more TTP militants were neutralized while attempting a similar infiltration.
The ISPR emphasized that these engagements highlight Pakistan's longstanding concerns regarding the Afghan Taliban regime's failure to manage the border effectively. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants who launch attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies these allegations and urges Pakistan to address its own security challenges.
Escalating tensions
Pakistan and Afghanistan have witnessed their most severe clashes in decades since February. Tensions escalated further this week, with both sides accusing each other of unprovoked shelling and targeting civilian populations. The ISPR called on the Afghan Taliban regime to fulfill its obligations and prevent the use of Afghan soil by militants, including the TTP, which the military refers to as 'khwarij'. The TTP has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces in its bid to impose strict Islamic law.
Additionally, Pakistan accuses India of supporting the TTP and separatist militants in Balochistan province, a charge that New Delhi denies.
