RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Pakistan’s security forces have killed 25 terrorists attempting to cross into the country from Afghanistan during two separate clashes in the border districts of North Waziristan and Kurram, the military media wing said on Sunday.
However, five Pakistani soldiers were also martyred in the operations against terrorists.
According to the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan’s security forces detected movements of two large groups of terrorists on the Afghan side attempting to infiltrate across the Pakistan–Afghanistan border near the Ghaki area of Kurram district and the Spinwam area of North Waziristan on October 24 and 25.
The security forces effectively engaged the infiltrating terrorist groups of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two separate operations, the ISPR said. Fifteen terrorists, including four suicide bombers, were killed in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan, while another ten terrorists were killed in the Ghaki area of Kurram district.
The killed terrorists were identified as members of Fitna al-Khawarij, a term referred to the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group operating from Afghanistan’s territory. A large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered from the killed infiltrating terrorists, ISPR stated.
However, during the intense exchange of fire, five brave Pakistani soldiers — Havildar Manzoor Hussain (35, resident of District Ghizar), Sepoy Nauman Ilyas Kiyani (23, resident of District Poonch), Sepoy Muhammad Adil (24, resident of District Kasur), Sepoy Shah Jehan (25, resident of District Vehari), and Sepoy Ali Asghar (25, resident of District Pakpattan) — fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing stated.
It is significant to note that these infiltration attempts by the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan terrorists are taking place at a time when delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in talks in Turkiye. The incidents, ISPR stated, cast doubt on the intentions of the Interim Afghan Government regarding its commitment to addressing terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
Pakistan has consistently urged the Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on its side and to fulfil its obligations under the Doha Agreement by denying the use of Afghan territory to terrorist elements operating against Pakistan.
“The Security Forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” ISPR maintained.
“Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji (terrorist) found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision “Azm e Istehkam” (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the military stated.
