RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s security forces killed 21 militants in several operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 3 and 5, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
The military’s media wing identified the militants and said they were backed by India. The claim could not be independently verified.
Operations along Pakistan-Afghanistan border
According to the ISPR, security forces killed 10 more militants in North Waziristan following an earlier engagement along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The operation took place during the night of August 31 and September 1. The forces targeted militants who had remained hidden in the area.
The latest deaths brought the total number of militants killed in the border infiltration attempt to 25, according to the military.
More Read
In another engagement in North Waziristan, security forces detected the movement of a militant group near the Afghan border. They then launched an operation and killed seven militants, the ISPR said.
Four more militants killed in KP
Security forces also conducted joint operations in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan.
The ISPR said four militants were killed in two separate encounters in the two districts.
More Read
The military said security forces continue clearance and sanitisation operations in the affected areas. The aim is to eliminate any remaining militants and prevent further attacks.
Pakistan raises concerns over Afghan border
The ISPR said repeated incidents along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have strengthened Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism.
The military accused the Afghan Taliban government of failing to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory against Pakistan.
It also called on Kabul to improve border management and meet its international obligations on counterterrorism.
Afghan and Indian authorities have rejected Pakistani allegations of supporting or facilitating militant activity, and such claims remain disputed.
Counterterrorism operations to continue
The ISPR said Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to protecting the country’s borders.
It added that security forces and law enforcement agencies are continuing counterterrorism operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework.
The military said these operations will continue until the threat from foreign-supported militant groups is eliminated.
Pakistan has faced a rise in militant violence in recent years, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remaining one of the country’s main areas affected by attacks.
