15 terrorists killed as security forces foil infiltration attempt along Pak-Afghan border: ISPR

Security forces have killed at least 15 terrorists in a 36-hour engagement after foiling an attempted infiltration along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border opposite North Waziristan, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the movement of a group of terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna Al Khwarij was detected during the night of August 31 and September 1. The terrorists were attempting to infiltrate Pakistan through the border, the ISPR said. “Own troops responded professionally and with patience to engage them successfully, ” the military’s media wing said, adding that the engagement lasted 36 hours. It said 15 terrorists were killed in the “precise and skillful” operation. A significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered during a follow-up sanitisation operation, the ISPR said. The military’s media wing said the recovery further exposed the “nefarious designs” of the terrorists and their facilitators seeking to disrupt peace and stability in Pakistan. The ISPR said the incident once again vindicated Pakistan’s stance regarding what it called the failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorist organisations for cross-border terrorism. It also accused the Afghan Taliban regime of failing to ensure effective border management and honour its international obligations. The military said sanitisation operations were continuing to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. It added that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism. President, PM laud security forces President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for foiling the infiltration attempt and killing 15 terrorists. In a statement shared by the President’s Media Wing on X, Zardari commended the forces for their professionalism and bravery in defending the country’s borders and safeguarding peace and stability. He said externally backed terrorist elements would not be allowed to spread unrest in Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the officers and personnel of the security forces for thwarting the infiltration attempt and killing 15 terrorists, the PM Office said. The prime minister praised their professionalism, patience and courage, saying the forces had foiled the terrorists’ “nefarious designs”. He reiterated that the Azm-e-Istehkam counterterrorism campaign would continue with full force and determination until terrorism was rooted out of the country. “The entire nation is proud of its brave armed forces, which are fighting for the defence of the country’s borders and national security, ” the prime minister said.

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