NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Pakistani security forces killed 30 terrorists of an “Indian proxy” group attempting to infiltrate the country through the Pak-Afghan border in Hassan Khel tehsil of North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing, ISPR, confirmed on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the infiltration attempt occurred during the nights of July 2 and 3, when a large group of militants from “Fitna al Khawarij,” an Indian-sponsored terrorist outfit, tried to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
“The movement of these khawarij (outcasts) was detected by vigilant security forces,” the statement said. The group was intercepted in the general area of Hassan Khel, leading to a decisive engagement in which all 30 militants were “sent to hell,” the ISPR noted.
The term “Fitna al Khawarij” is used by Pakistani authorities to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was officially labeled as such in July 2023. All institutions have since been directed to refer to TTP and associated attackers as khawarij, meaning religious outcasts.
Security forces also recovered a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the slain militants, averting what the ISPR called a “potential catastrophe.”
Praising the operation, ISPR commended the “exceptional professionalism, vigilance, and preparedness” of the Pakistani troops who foiled the infiltration attempt.
The statement also called on the interim Afghan government to prevent the use of Afghan soil by “foreign proxies” targeting Pakistan. “The security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and to eradicate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism,” the military added.
President Asif Ali Zardari lauded the forces’ efforts and reaffirmed the country’s determination to eliminate terrorism in all forms. “Security operations will continue until the terrorists are completely eradicated,” his office said in a statement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed the sentiment, commending the “brave armed forces” for their vigilance and sacrifice. “The entire nation salutes the security forces,” he stated.
The incident comes amid a surge in militant activity, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the TTP’s termination of its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Just days earlier, two terrorists were killed in a security operation in Duki, Balochistan. In May 2025 alone, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reported 85 militant attacks across the country, resulting in 113 deaths, including 52 security personnel and 46 civilians.
The successful repulsion of the latest infiltration attempt underscores the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism and the need for coordinated regional efforts to ensure stability.
