Security forces killed 12 militants, including Afghan Taliban personnel, while thwarting an attempted infiltration from Afghanistan into Pakistan’s Kurram district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to the military’s media wing, security forces detected the movement of a group of Khawarij attempting to cross the international border from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Troops responded effectively and foiled the infiltration attempt.
The ISPR stated that Afghan Taliban posts also opened fire in support of the infiltrating group.
“Skillful and precise engagement by vigilant troops resulted in the killing of 12 Khawarij and Afghan Taliban,” the statement said.
During the exchange of fire, Naib Subedar Hidayat Aman embraced martyrdom while fighting bravely against the infiltrators.
The military said the incident along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border reinforced Islamabad’s position regarding the Afghan Taliban administration’s failure to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan.
The ISPR reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remained committed to protecting the country’s borders and territorial integrity. It added that a sanitisation operation was underway in the area to eliminate any remaining militants.
The statement further said that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
It also paid tribute to the sacrifices of security personnel, saying their commitment strengthened the nation’s resolve to defend its people and borders.
In a statement posted on X, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised security forces for preventing the infiltration attempt. He also extended condolences to the family of Naib Subedar Hidayat Aman and expressed solidarity with them following his martyrdom.
Naqvi said the nation took pride in the professionalism, courage and capabilities of Pakistan’s security forces.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has continued to face persistent militant attacks and security challenges. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Pakistan’s security situation deteriorated significantly in September 2026 amid mounting political, economic and regional pressures.
The institute reported 225 militant attacks nationwide in September, compared with 199 in August, marking a 13.1 per cent increase and the highest monthly total in 12 years.
On September 27, 14 people, including two rescue officials, were martyred and 35 others injured in Dera Ismail Khan after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a police checkpoint. The attackers subsequently targeted an ambulance transporting bodies to a hospital.
Earlier, on September 18, a major attack in the old Police Lines area of Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed 23 people and injured around 100 others. Eight militants were killed during a subsequent overnight clearance operation.
