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Arab News
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistani forces kill 47 ‘Indian-sponsored militants' in two-day engagements in southwest — military
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed 47 'Indian-sponsored militants' belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) near the country's border with Afghanistan in the restive Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Saturday. Pakistani forces engaged and killed 33 militants while attempting to infiltrate the border in Sambaza area of Balochistan's Zhob district on August 7-8, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing. The military, following the successful engagements, conducted a sanitization operation on the night August 8-9 in surrounding areas of Sambaza along Pakistan-Afghanistan border and neutralized 14 more 'Indian-sponsored khwarij [militants].' In recent months, Islamabad has frequently accused India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation. 'Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed khwarij,' the ISPR said in a statement. 'Security Forces remain committed to secure the nation's frontiers and thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Pakistan.' Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its western regions bordering Afghanistan. While the recent infiltration attempt took place in the volatile Balochistan province, the site of a long-running insurgency by Baloch separatists, the TTP has primarily carried out attacks in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, targeting security personnel, police and civilians. On Friday, Balochistan's Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti welcomed the operation, calling it a successful counter-infiltration move that 'made the nation proud.' 'The people of Balochistan stand united against the enemies of peace,' he said. 'Every obstacle to peace and prosperity in Balochistan will be eliminated.'
Al Jazeera
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Pakistan says soldiers kill 33 fighters near Afghan border
Pakistani security forces have killed 33 fighters who tried to cross into the southwestern province of Balochistan from neighbouring Afghanistan, the military says, describing them as 'Indian-sponsored' separatists. Pakistan's military said in a statement on Friday that an overnight operation took place in the Zhob district of Balochistan province, where soldiers spotted 'Khwarij', a phrase the government uses for Pakistan Taliban fighters. The fighters were intercepted and engaged with 'precise' fire, the statement said, adding that weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for what he called a successful operation. 'Our brave soldiers risked their lives to foil this infiltration attempt and crushed the nefarious designs of the terrorists,' the prime minister was quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan as saying. Separatist fighters demanding mineral-rich Balochistan receive a bigger share of profits from its resources have stepped up attacks in recent months, particularly on Pakistan's military, which has launched an intelligence-based offensive against them. Pakistan often accuses the Taliban government in Afghanistan of turning a blind eye to fighters operating near their shared frontier. Kabul denies the charge. The Pakistani military said on Friday that those killed had the backing of India although it offered no evidence to back up the allegation. Pakistan and India often accuse each other of backing armed groups. New Delhi denies supporting fighters in Pakistan and has not commented on the latest incident. The nuclear-armed neighbours with a history of conflict continue to engage in war rhetoric and have exchanged fire across the Line of Control, their de facto border in disputed Kashmir, after an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 civilians in India-administered Kashmir on April 22. Clashes with Pakistani Taliban On Friday, the government in Balochistan suspended mobile phone internet service until August 31 for security reasons before Thursday's Independence Day holiday, which celebrates Pakistan gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. In recent years, separatist fighters in Balochistan have targeted people selling national flags before the holiday. Balochistan has for years been the scene of a rebellion by separatist groups along with attacks by the Pakistan Taliban and the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army. The separatists demand independence from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in armed attacks, most claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, who are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and are allies of the Afghan Taliban. The TTP is a separate group and has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since then. Pakistan's security forces are also operating in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where soldiers in April killed 54 Pakistan Taliban in what authorities described as the deadliest single-day clash with fighters this year.
Arab News
30-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Four soldiers, seven ‘Indian-sponsored' militants killed in Pakistan's northwest, military says
ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani soldiers and seven 'Indian-sponsored' militants were killed in separate encounters in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said late Thursday. Islamabad has accused India of orchestrating several militant attacks in Pakistan, amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors since traded fire earlier this month in worst fighting between them in decades. New Delhi denies the allegations. On Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military's media wing, said the militants attempted to attack a security forces' check-post in KP's North Waziristan district, which was effectively thwarted by Pakistani forces. 'Indian sponsored khwarij [militants] attempted to attack a Security Forces Check Post in general area Shawal, North Waziristan District. The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fire exchange, six Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,' it said in a statement. 'However, during intense fire exchange, Lt. Daniyal Ismail… a brave young officer who was leading his troops from front, fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat along with his three men.' Pakistani security forces neutralized one more 'Indian-sponsored' militant in another encounter in the Chitral district, according to the ISPR. 'Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area,' it added. Pakistan and India often accuse each other of supporting militancy. This month's standoff, which saw the neighbors trade missiles, drones and artillery fire, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement. Islamabad blames India of backing a separatist insurgency in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province as well as religiously motivated militant groups, like the Pakistani Taliban, in KP. India denies the allegations.
