Pakistan’s security forces killed 15 militants who were attempting to enter the country from Afghanistan, according to reports from washingtonpost.com and other outlets on Thursday.
The operation took place in North Waziristan, a district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. The Washington Post reported the incident based on statements from Pakistani military sources, while Dawn, citing the military’s media wing ISPR, described those killed as terrorists trying to cross into Pakistan through the Afghan border.
The reports did not specify a precise time for the clash or name the militant group involved. However, separate coverage from Arab News PK noted that in a related but distinct operation in the same region, Pakistani forces killed nine militants, including one described as a “highly wanted” figure. That report did not identify the individual.
Officials in Pakistan have publicly welcomed the results of the operations. The chief minister of Balochistan province praised the security forces following the North Waziristan action, according to dailyindependent.com.pk. Similarly, a statement from Pakistan’s state news agency APP quoted a senior political figure, Ayaz Sadiq, commending the military for eliminating the 15 militants.
The incidents highlight continued cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly accused militant groups of using Afghan soil to launch attacks, a charge Afghan officials have denied. The latest killings come amid a broader uptick in security operations in Pakistan’s border regions over the past year.
Observers will be watching whether Islamabad steps up pressure on Kabul to curb militant movements, and whether the Taliban-led Afghan government responds with new border security measures.
