ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 13 militants this week who attempted to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the country’s northwestern province in separate incidents, the military’s media wing said on Thursday, vowing to continue defending the nation’s frontiers against external threats.
Both incidents took place during Apr. 28-29 this week, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. The first took place in the northwestern Mohmand District, where security forces killed eight members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group attempting to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the ISPR said.
The second incident occurred in the North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said. It said five more TTP militants were killed when security forces saw them attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the district.
“These engagements once again substantiate Pakistan’s repeated stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure effective border management on their side,” the ISPR said.
Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to militants who carry out attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations and urges Islamabad to focus on its security challenges rather than blaming it.
The two countries have been engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades since February. Tensions this week surged as both accused each other of unprovoked shelling and targeting civilian populations in their countries.
“The Afghan Taliban regime must fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by the khwarij and involvement of its citizens in terrorism inside Pakistan,” the ISPR said.
The military uses the term “khwarij” for TTP militants. The group has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistani civilians and law enforcers over the years in a bid to impose their strict brand of Islamic law.
Pakistan also accuses India of backing the TTP and separatist militants in its southwestern Balochistan province. New Delhi denies the allegations.
