• ISPR says large cache of weapons recovered; president, PM praise armed forces’ swift, precise action
• FC man martyred in Bannu quadcopter strike; three hideouts destroyed, seven held in clearance operation
• Mobile data service suspended in Balochistan due to security concerns

QUETTA / LAKKI MARWAT: Security forces foiled an infiltration attempt by militants from Afghanistan into Pakistan, killing 33 terrorists in the Sambaza area of Balochistan’s Zhob district on Friday, the military’s media wing said.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a large group of militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to as the “Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij”, attempted to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on the night of Aug 7 and 8. The group was detected by security personnel in the Sambaza area.

The ISPR said troops effectively engaged and thwarted the infiltration attempt. As a result of “precise, bold and skilful engagement, 33 Indian-sponsored Khaw­arij” were eliminated. A large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered.

It stressed that Pakistan’s security forces “remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and to eradicate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country”.

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. The country ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025.

Last month, 30 terrorists of an “Indian proxy” outfit were killed as they attempted to infiltrate through the Pak-Afghan border in Hassan Khel tehsil of KP’s North Waziristan district.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday praised the Pakistan Army for the successful operation in Zhob. In a statement, he lauded the courage, professionalism and timely action of the armed forces in defending the country’s borders.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the security forces, calling the operation “a remarkable success” in Pakistan’s ongoing fight against terrorism. “Our brave soldiers risked their lives to foil this infiltration attempt and crushed the nefarious designs of the terrorists,” he said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mobile data service suspended

Meanwhile, the government has suspended cell phone data services for three weeks in Baloc­histan in a bid to block communications among militants behind a surge in recent attacks, an official and the government said.

In an order on Wednesday seen by Reuters, the government said the services would be suspended until the end of the month because of the law and order situation in the province, which has 8.5 million cell phone subscribers.

“The service has been suspended because they (militants) use it for coordination and sharing information,” Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said on Friday.

Soldier martyred in Bannu

A soldier of the Federal Constabulary embraced martyrdom and three others were injured in a quadcopter strike on a security post in Bannu district’s Takhtikhel Bakkakhel area on Friday.

A police official said militants from the Fitna al-Khawarij group carried out the attack by drop-ping ammunition from a quadcopter, which exploded on impact.

Two injured lance naiks were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Also on Friday, police and security forces destroyed three terrorist hideouts and arrested seven facilitators in a joint intelligence-based operation in the Havaid area of Bannu.

A police official said the operation, involving armoured personnel carriers, included a house-to-house search.

Security forces seized a loader rickshaw and two motorcycles from the hideouts.

Residents were asked to remain indoors during the operation and war­ned of legal action if they provided shelter or assistance to militants.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025