Five terrorists were killed as security forces stopped an infiltration attempt near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan’s Zhob district, the military’s media wing reported on Sunday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that they spotted a group of militants attempting to cross the Pak-Afghan border in Sambaza, Zhob district. The infiltration attempt occurred during the night between January 18 and 19.
“Troops effectively engaged the militants and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. As a result, five Khwarij were eliminated,” ISPR confirmed.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the interim Afghan government to improve border security on their side. The ISPR emphasized the need for the Afghan authorities to fulfill their obligations and prevent Afghan soil from being used by Khwarij to carry out acts of terrorism against Pakistan.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its borders and eradicating terrorism from the country.
According to the “CRSS Annual Security Report 2024” by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, the year 2024 was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan’s civil and military security forces. The report recorded 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks targeting security personnel.
The report also highlighted a total of 1,612 fatalities among civilians and security forces, making up 63% of the year’s total casualties. This marked a 73% increase in losses compared to the 934 militants neutralized.
Overall, terror-related deaths in 2024 reached a nine-year high, with fatalities 66% higher than in 2023. On average, nearly seven lives were lost daily. November emerged as the most violent month of the year.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced the highest number of fatalities, with 1,616 deaths, followed by Balochistan, where 782 lives were lost. In total, Pakistan endured 2,546 fatalities and 2,267 injuries in 2024 due to 1,166 terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations.
This grim tally reflects the challenging security situation and highlights the importance of robust border security operations.
