QUETTA: Security forces killed five terrorists when they were attempting to infiltrate Pakistan from Afghanistan, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a group of terrorists attempted to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border through the Sambaza area of Zhob district on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

The movement of terrorists was “picked up by the security forces”, leading to gunfire.

The troops “thwarted” the infiltration attempts and managed to gun down five terrorists, ISPR added.

Forces engage infiltrators in Zhob; interim Afghan govt urged to deny use of its soil for attacks in Pakistan

The statement added that Pakistan has “consistently been asking” the Afghan Taliban government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border.

“The [i]nterim Afghan government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan,” the ISPR statement concluded.

In recent months, civil and military leaderships have stated that terrorists carrying out attacks in Pakistan were based in Afghanistan.

In his press conference last month, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that terrorist outfits were being provided “sanctuaries, support, and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory”.

Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also asked the Afghan government to stop the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakis­tan (TTP) from carrying out terrorist activities inside Pakistan, calling it unacceptable and a red line for the country.

Kabul has repeatedly denied Pakistan’s allegations, resulting in a marked degradation of bilateral ties.

In a meeting last week, the political leadership asked the military’s top brass to engage with Afghanistan to address security issues.

In an almost four-hour-long meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the representatives of several political parties expressed concerns over the prevailing law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, the COAS pointed out that the Afghan interim rulers had failed to adhere to repeated warnings in the past.

“They don’t listen to us,” a source quoted the army chief as saying in reply to the suggestion of formal or informal dialogue with the interim Afghan government.

In the face of recurring attacks, security forces have also increased targeted operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Last week, security forces killed 27 terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in the Kachhi area of Balochistan.

The ISPR said security forces raided hideouts of terrorists, leading to an intense exchange of fire.

The killed terrorists were involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and civilians and were wanted by law enforcement agencies.

Earlier this month, three soldiers were martyred, while 19 terrorists were killed in separate incidents in Karak, Peshawar and Mohmand districts.

According to ISPR, the terrorists were killed in three separate engagements.

The government, through an official notification a few months ago, designated the banned TTP as Fitna al Khwarij, while mandating all institutions to use the term Khwariji (outcast) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2025