Security forces killed 15 militants who allegedly attempted to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan through North Waziristan, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the militants attempted to enter North Waziristan during the night between August 31 and September 1.
Their movement was detected by security forces, prompting troops to engage them. ISPR said the forces responded “professionally and with patience” during the operation.
The military’s media wing said the engagement continued for 36 hours and resulted in the deaths of 15 militants whom it described as members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by the state as “Fitna al-Khawarij”.
Following the operation, security forces conducted a sanitisation operation in the area and recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition from the bodies of the slain militants, according to ISPR.
The military said the incident reinforced Pakistan’s concerns about the alleged use of Afghan territory by militant groups to carry out cross-border attacks.
ISPR also criticised the Afghan Taliban authorities, alleging that they had failed to prevent militants from using Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan and had not taken adequate measures to strengthen border management.
The military said a sanitisation operation was continuing in the area to locate and eliminate any other militants. It added that security forces and law-enforcement agencies would continue counterterrorism operations under the government’s “Azm-i-Istehkam” initiative.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for foiling the alleged infiltration attempt in North Waziristan.
According to state broadcaster PTV, the prime minister said the forces had demonstrated professionalism, patience and courage in thwarting the militants’ plans.
He reiterated that the Azm-i-Istehkam campaign would continue with “full force and determination” until terrorism was eliminated from the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari also commended the security forces for the operation.
He said their resolve to protect Pakistan’s borders and maintain peace and stability was commendable, adding that terrorist groups operating with foreign support would not be allowed to create unrest in the country.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces for what he described as successfully thwarting the militants’ plans.
The latest operation comes as Pakistan continues to demand that the Afghan Taliban prevent militant groups, particularly the TTP, from using Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
Despite recent diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said meaningful progress in bilateral relations would depend on the Taliban taking concrete and verifiable action against the TTP and other militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
The remarks came amid renewed diplomatic engagement, including a visit to Islamabad by Chinese Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong to revive the Urumqi process, as well as an invitation extended to Afghan Ambassador Sardar Shakeb to address the National Defence University.
Pakistan has maintained that there is limited evidence of the Taliban taking sufficient steps beyond containing TTP activities.
A recent report by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said the Taliban had relocated around 2,000 TTP fighters and their families away from areas along the Pakistan border. It also noted that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had warned the TTP against attacking Pakistan.
However, the report said Taliban support for the TTP continued as the militant group expanded its attacks and organisational structure.
For Islamabad, the relocation of militants does not address its concerns over the TTP’s command, training and logistical networks operating from Afghan territory.
