RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, on Thursday confirmed that security forces foiled an infiltration attempt by Khawarij militants in North Waziristan from Afghanistan, killing 15 militants in the operation.
The ISPR said security forces detected the movement of a group of militants belonging to what it called the “Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij” during the night of Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 as they attempted to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border opposite North Waziristan district.
According to the statement, security forces engaged the militants with what ISPR described as “precision and skill” during an operation that lasted 36 hours.
“As a result of precise and skillful engagement,” 15 militants were killed, ISPR said.
Following the operation, security forces launched a sanitization operation in the area and recovered a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition from the dead militants, according to the military.
ISPR said the recovery further demonstrated what it described as the militants’ plans and those of their facilitators to disrupt peace and stability in Pakistan.
The military also renewed its criticism of Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, saying the latest incident along the border reinforced Pakistan’s position that Afghan territory was being used by militant groups to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
ISPR accused the Taliban government of failing to prevent the use of Afghan soil for what it described as cross-border terrorism and of failing to ensure effective border management and meet its international obligations.
The Taliban authorities have previously rejected allegations that Afghanistan’s territory is being used to launch attacks against neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, security forces have continued a sanitization operation in the area to search for any remaining militants, ISPR said.
The military said its counterterrorism campaign would continue under the government’s “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative, aimed at combating what Pakistan describes as foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism.
The statement did not provide details of any casualties among Pakistani security personnel.
The reported infiltration attempt comes amid continued tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and persistent Pakistani concerns over militant attacks originating from Afghan territory.
The operation comes amid continued concerns over TTP activity from Afghan territory. A United Nations Security Council monitoring report published in 2025 said TTP had intensified attacks against Pakistani military and state institutions, while noting reports of the group being harboured in Afghanistan and facilitated in conducting operations. The report also said Pakistan had experienced a sharp rise in cross-border terrorism since 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
A subsequent UN report said TTP had been given greater liberty and support by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities and that attacks by the group against Pakistan had increased. It described TTP as one of the largest terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and said its attacks on Pakistani security forces and state structures had contributed to military confrontation.
The United Nations Security Council has designated TTP as a terrorist organization. The council says the group has sought to destabilize Pakistan through attacks on the Pakistani military and political figures and has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks in the country.
Meanwhile, a 2024 UN sanctions-monitoring report estimated TTP’s strength at between 6,000 and 6,500 fighters and said the group had intensified attacks inside Pakistan, with more than 800 attacks reported during the relevant period. The report also cited member-state assessments of Taliban acquiescence or support for TTP activity.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of allowing TTP militants to use Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan. Kabul has denied allowing its territory to be used against other countries.
The latest operation highlights the continuing security challenge along Pakistan’s western border, where authorities have stepped up efforts to prevent militant infiltration and cross-border attacks.
The claims about the Sept. 2 operation could not immediately be independently verified.
