Pakistan Army Says 21 Militants Killed in Operations Along Afghan Border

Peshawar (Terror Monitor) — Twenty-one militants were killed in security operations and clashes in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan, the military said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 21 “Khwarij” were killed in various engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 2 and 5.

The military said that during an operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan on the night of August 31 and September 1, security forces killed 10 militants who were hiding in the area.

In another operation in North Waziristan, seven militants were killed, while four others were killed in separate clashes in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan, according to ISPR.

The military said the total number of militants killed while attempting to infiltrate Pakistan has reached 25. Clearance operations are continuing to eliminate other militants in the area, it added.

ISPR alleged that cross-border terrorism against Pakistan was being carried out from Afghanistan and called on the Afghan Taliban government to ensure effective border management and prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory.

President and Prime Minister Praise Security Forces

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for killing militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, commending their professionalism and expressing satisfaction over the timely operations.

Zardari said the “nefarious designs” of militants operating with external support would be foiled at all costs. He said defending Pakistan’s borders and completely eliminating terrorism remained the country’s top priorities, while urging Afghanistan’s interim government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces, saying the nation was proud of the armed forces’ professionalism in thwarting attempts to undermine peace and stability.

He said the entire nation stood alongside the security forces in the fight against terrorism and that operations would continue under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision until terrorism was completely eliminated.

Pakistan uses the term “Khwarij” for militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).