NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Pakistan’s security forces killed eight militants during an intelligence-based operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan district, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday.
The military said the engagement took place after security forces detected the movement of a group of militants, referred to as “khwarij,” in the area. Acting on the intelligence, troops carried out a precise and coordinated operation, resulting in the killing of eight militants linked to what the statement described as “Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij.”
According to the ISPR, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants during the operation. The term “Fitna al Khawarij” is used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been involved in multiple attacks across Pakistan.
The military further stated that sanitisation operations are ongoing in the area to ensure that no other militants remain. These operations are part of continued efforts to secure the region and prevent cross-border infiltration.In its statement, the ISPR also criticized the Afghan Taliban, stating that the incident reflects a failure to ensure effective border management on their side.
It urged Afghan authorities to fulfill their responsibilities by preventing the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities against Pakistan.Reaffirming its commitment, the military said Pakistan’s security forces remain determined to safeguard the country’s borders and eliminate all threats to national security.
It added that the ongoing counterterrorism campaign under “Azm-e-Istehkam” will continue at full pace to eradicate foreign-sponsored militancy from the country.