PESHAWAR: At least seven militants were killed in North Waziristan as security forces foiled a bid by them to enter Pakistan from Afghanis­tan, said the army’s media wing on Wednesday.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a large quantity of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the militants by security forces following an intense exchan­­ge of fire in the Spinkai area of the district.

The statement said that the militants gunned down during the exchange of fire were trying to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, but their movement was detected by the troops in the Ghulam Khan area.

“The infiltrators were surrounded, effectively engaged and after an intense fire exchange, all seven terrorists were killed. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed terrorists,” it read.

The statement said that Pakistan had consistently been asking the interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border to prevent the movement of militants entering Pakistan to foment terrorism.

“[The] interim Afghan government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism aga­inst Pakistan,” the state­­ment said.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2024