Pakistani security forces killed 15 militants during a 36-hour standoff after they attempted to cross the border from Afghanistan, the military announced Thursday.
Officials identified the deceased militants as belonging to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. The military statement further alleged that the militants were sponsored by India, an accusation both Kabul and New Delhi have not yet commented on. Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan and India of supporting the TTP and other militant groups, claims that both nations deny.
The incursion attempt was detected on Tuesday as the militants tried to enter North Waziristan, a district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The ensuing exchange of fire lasted for 36 hours.
Pakistan’s acting President Yousaf Raza Gilani commended the security forces for thwarting the infiltration. He stated that militants backed by India would not be permitted to disturb Pakistan’s peace and stability and affirmed that counterterrorism operations would persist until terrorism is eradicated.
Militant violence has escalated in Pakistan in recent months, with the TTP being blamed for much of the unrest. The TTP, while separate from, is closely allied with the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan contends that numerous TTP leaders and fighters have found refuge in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control there in 2021, a claim the Afghan Taliban government disputes.
The Pakistani military’s statement criticized the Afghan Taliban government, asserting that its failure to prevent its territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan was evident in the attempted infiltration. The military declared that the Afghan Taliban regime has consistently failed to implement effective border management and uphold its international commitments.
This incident occurred a day after Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry indicated that progress in improving relations with Afghanistan would depend on actions and assurances from Kabul. Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi noted that improved relations required "verifiable, written assurances from the Afghan side that their territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan."
Earlier in April, China hosted discussions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Urumqi aimed at resolving the conflict that erupted between the two nations in February and resulted in numerous casualties. Since those talks, Pakistan has not engaged in further discussions with Kabul.