ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed 15 India-sponsored terrorists while thwarting an attempted infiltration along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border opposite North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said Thursday.

According to the ISPR, the movement of a group of Fitna al-Khawarij militants attempting to enter Pakistan was detected during the night of August 31 and September 1. Security forces responded with patience and professionalism before engaging the infiltrators.

The ensuing operation continued for around 36 hours, ultimately resulting in the killing of all 15 militants, according to the military.

15 India-Sponsored Militants Killed After 36-Hour Operation

Following the engagement, security forces launched a sanitisation operation in the area. During the operation, troops recovered a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition from the militants killed during the clash.

The ISPR said the recovered material further demonstrated what it described as the militants’ plans to undermine peace and stability in Pakistan.

Security forces remain deployed in the area as the sanitisation operation continues to locate and eliminate any remaining India-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij militants.

The military said the latest operation demonstrates the security forces’ continued readiness to respond to infiltration attempts and protect Pakistan’s borders.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Security Concerns Highlighted

The ISPR said the incident once again supported Pakistan’s longstanding concerns about the use of Afghan territory for cross-border terrorism.

According to the military’s media wing, the Afghan Taliban authorities have repeatedly failed to prevent militant groups from operating from their territory, while also failing to ensure effective border management and meet their international commitments.

Pakistan has consistently urged Afghan authorities to take stronger measures against militant groups allegedly using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks inside Pakistan.

Security forces, the ISPR said, remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to protecting the country’s territorial integrity and securing its frontiers.

15 India-Sponsored Militants and Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Campaign

The military also reaffirmed that Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign under the government’s Azm-e-Istehkam vision would continue at full pace. The objective, it said, is to eliminate the threat posed by foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism.

Pakistan has experienced increased militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021, following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power.

A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) identified KP and Balochistan as the country’s main violence hotspots during the second quarter of 2026.

The report said the two provinces accounted for nearly 96% of violence-related fatalities recorded across Pakistan during the quarter. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded more than 61% of the deaths, with 475 fatalities, while Balochistan accounted for 265 deaths, or 34%.

KP also reported the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the national total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, accounting for 35%.

The latest border operation underscores the continuing security challenges facing Pakistan, particularly along its western frontier, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent militant infiltration and counter terrorism.