Pakistani Military Says It Killed 15 Armed Militants Attempting Infiltration From Afghanistan

The Pakistani military announced that it has killed 15 armed militants who attempted to cross the border and infiltrate the country from neighboring Afghanistan.

According to the Associated Press and other foreign media outlets on the 4th, the Pakistani military stated in a statement the previous day that it intercepted armed militants trying to sneak into the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan from Afghanistan on September 1, killing 15 of them after a 36-hour gun battle.

The Pakistani military claimed that the killed armed militants belonged to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and that they were supported by India.

In response, the Afghan Taliban and Indian sides have not yet issued any reactions, AP reported.

The TTP is a separate Islamic extremist militant organization distinct from the Afghan Taliban, though it is known to maintain close ties with them.

Acting Pakistani President Yousaf Raza Gillani issued a separate statement praising the national military for thwarting the militants' infiltration attempt.

He also emphasized that attempts by armed militants supported by neighboring India to disrupt Pakistan's peace, stability, and prosperity must never be tolerated, and counter-terrorism operations will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated.

In recent months, attacks by armed militants have seen an upward trend in Pakistan, and Pakistani authorities have blamed them on the TTP.

Pakistani authorities claim that since the Afghan Taliban recaptured power in 2021, many TTP leaders and members have based themselves in Afghan territory, crossing the border to attack Pakistan, a claim that the Afghan Taliban denies.

The Pakistani military's latest operation comes just a day after the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that improving relations with Afghanistan depends on the actions of the Afghan Taliban.

Tahir Andrabi, a spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, said that China's Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs, Yue Xiaoyong, recently visited Islamabad to discuss ways to ease tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.

However, he added that improving relations with Afghanistan depends on written guarantees from the Afghan side ensuring that Afghan territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.

Last April, the Chinese side invited representatives from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban to the western Chinese city of Urumqi to mediate talks aimed at preventing clashes, and neither Pakistan nor the Afghan Taliban have held talks since then.

The Urumqi talks at the time were held following clashes between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in February that left hundreds dead.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.