Security forces neutralized six terrorists in Balochistan’s Zhob district when they were trying to infiltrate into the province through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the army’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to one statement On behalf of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), “Hon [the] On the night of 22/23 January, a group movement The Khawarijwho were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, were caught by the security forces from Sambaza, a general area of Zhob district.
“His forces effectively thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. As a result, six The Khawarij They were sent to hell,” he said, referring to the term used by the state for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The statement added that after the operation, the forces also recovered a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives.
“Pakistan has been continuously asking the Afghan government to ensure effective border management towards the border. It is expected that the interim Afghan government will fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan territory. The Khawarij To continue terrorist activities against Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s security forces are committed to securing its borders and eradicating the menace of terrorism from the country,” it said.
Earlier this week, the ISPR revealed that on January 11, security forces had killed an Afghan national – who was involved in terrorism inside Pakistan – during an operation in Zhob.
“The person has been identified as Muhammad Khan Ahmad Khel, son of Haji Qasim Dauran Khan, village Bilurai, Wazkhwa District, Afghanistan, Paktika,” ISPR said.
The statement added that Ahmed Khel’s body was handed over to the Afghan authorities on Monday after necessary procedures.
He added that such incidents are irrefutable evidence of Afghan nationals’ involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Islamabad has consistently raised concerns that the outlawed TTP is using Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan, and has called on the Afghan government to rein in the group. Kabul denies the allegations.
Due to this issue, Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have been strained recently, leading to frequent border skirmishes.
In a meeting last week, the political leadership asked top army officers to hold talks with Afghanistan to resolve security issues.
In a nearly four-hour long meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, representatives of several political parties expressed concern over the current law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
However, the COAS pointed out that the Afghan interim rulers had failed to heed repeated warnings in the past.
In response to suggestions for formal or informal talks with the interim Afghan government, a source quoted the army chief as saying, “He doesn’t listen to us.”
In view of repeated attacks, security forces have increased targeted operations in Balochistan and KP as well.
‘Alarming’ rise in terror attacks
It said that while terrorists no longer control certain areas within Pakistan as they did in 2014, the current insecurity in parts of KP and Balochistan is “dangerous”.
It said that more than 95 percent of the terrorist attacks recorded in 2024 were concentrated in KP and Balochistan.
KP recorded the highest number of terrorist incidents in the country in 2024, with 295 attacks. Meanwhile, attacks by various outlawed Baloch insurgent groups, mainly the BLA and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), saw a staggering 119 percent increase, accounting for 171 incidents in Balochistan.
