Security forces eliminated 47 militants in a major operation against cross-border terrorism near the Afghan border in Balochistan’s Zhob district. Officials confirmed the action on Tuesday.
According to security sources, the militants were linked to Indian-backed Fitna al-Khwaraj, a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group attempted to infiltrate from the Afghan side through Sambaza in Zhob district. Their movement was detected before they could enter Pakistan.
The military launched a targeted operation from August 7 to 9. During this action, all 47 terrorists were killed. Security sources revealed that most of those neutralised were Afghan nationals. This incident highlights the ongoing threat of infiltration and cross-border militancy along the Pak-Afghan border.
Pakistan has been facing a sharp rise in cross-border terrorism since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan in 2021. The situation is particularly alarming in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where infiltration and armed violence have surged.
A recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, painted a grim picture. It stated that the country witnessed 78 terrorist attacks in June alone. These incidents caused at least 100 deaths.
Among the victims were 53 security personnel and 39 civilians. Six militants and two members of local peace committees were also killed. At least 189 people sustained injuries. Of them, 126 were security forces and 63 were civilians.
The report added that the total number of deaths linked to terrorism and counter-operations in June reached 175. These included 55 members of security forces, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two local peace committee members.
The continuous rise in cross-border terrorism remains a serious concern for Pakistan’s national security, particularly in its border regions.
