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Security forces killed eight India-backed militants during an exchange of fire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
The military’s media wing said that the movement of a group of Indian proxy militants, also known as Fitna al-Khawarij, was detected by security forces on April 1.
The ISPR added that security forces effectively engaged the group of terrorists, adding that as a result of “precise and skillful engagement,” eight of them were gunned down. It said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists.
“The engagement once again substantiates our repeated stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure effective border management on their side of the border. Afghan Taliban Regime must fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khwarij and involvement of its citizens in terrorism inside Pakistan,” said the ISPR.
The military's media wing said that the security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers.
"Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area," the ISPR said, adding that the relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
Pakistan has witnessed a significant surge in cross-border militant activity since the Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both of which border Afghanistan.
In response to the escalating attacks, Pakistan launched "Operation Ghazab lil-Haq," during which approximately 684 Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants were killed.
More than 900 operatives were also wounded, while 252 checkposts were destroyed, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed on Thursday.
In October 2025, the two countries were also involved in border clashes after Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants carried out unprovoked assaults on Pakistan’s border positions.
The ensuing fighting resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred in the line of duty.
Despite several rounds of negotiations, both sides failed to reach a breakthrough, largely due to the Afghan Taliban authorities’ unwillingness to act against militant groups.
