Pakistan says killed 30 militants trying to infiltrate border with Afghanistan
Pakistani security forces intercepted the militants in the restive North Waziristan district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing.
All 30 militants, belonging to 'Indian proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij,' a reference to the Pakistani Taliban, were killed as a result of 'precise and skillful engagement.'
'A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij [militants],' the ISPR said in a statement.
'The interim Afghan government also needs to check and prevent the use of Afghan soil by 'foreign proxies' for orchestrating terrorist activities against Pakistan.'
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its western regions bordering Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.
The North Waziristan district has long been a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who have mounted their attacks against Pakistani security forces and checkposts, and law enforcers since late 2022, when their fragile, months-long truce broke down with Islamabad.
On June 28, a suicide attack, claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban, killed 13 Pakistani soldiers and injured 29 people, including civilians, in the volatile district that borders Afghanistan, local government and police officials said.
A day later, the district administration imposed a 30-day restriction on the movement of people and vehicles from dusk till dawn, saying it was in the interest of 'public safety, law and order, movement of security forces and [to] restrict the movement of outlaws.'
In a statement issued from his office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Pakistani security forces for foiling the militant infiltration attempt in North Waziristan.
'We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,' he said. 'The entire nation salutes their security forces.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Azerbaijan signs $2 billion investment agreements with Pakistan on sidelines of ECO summit
ISLAMABAD: Azerbaijan signed investment agreements worth $2 billion with Pakistan on Friday to boost economic cooperation, said an official statement released in Islamabad, in a major development during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to the Central Asian state for the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit. The two-day summit, hosted in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, focused on a sustainable and climate-resilient future for the region. In his address, Sharif warned that climate change posed an existential threat to ECO member states, highlighting the impact of melting glaciers, floods, desertification and declining crop yields. He also emphasized more trade, tourism and regional integration to enhance economic prosperity. 'In the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov signed agreements for $2 billion of investment in Pakistan's economic sector from Azerbaijan,' the PM Office announced in a statement. The agreements were signed following a bilateral meeting between Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with officials hoping for a more detailed agreement during Aliyev's upcoming visit to Pakistan. 'The agreement has elevated investment and trade relations between the two countries to a historic level and will serve as a guarantee for further strengthening their brotherly ties and commercial partnership,' the official Pakistani statement added. It also described the development as a result of sustained engagement between Pakistani ministries and diplomats and their Azerbaijani counterparts over recent months. SIDELINE DIPLOMACY On the sidelines of the summit, Sharif held separate meetings with the presidents of Turkiye, Iran and Uzbekistan, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to regional cooperation, peace and connectivity. In his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and vowed to accelerate progress in critical areas. 'The two leaders reiterated their resolve to bring about meaningful progress in relations... [emphasizing] the importance of deepening cooperation in trade, defense, energy, connectivity and investment,' said a separate handout by the PM Office. To advance this agenda, both sides agreed to exchange high-level delegations to finalize understandings reached between the sides. In another key engagement, the Pakistani prime minister met Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, with both sides reviewing the implementation of previous agreements to strengthen bilateral ties. Sharif praised Iran's leadership during the recent conflict with Israel and welcomed Tehran's decision to agree to a ceasefire. 'The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the people and Government of Iran and Pakistan's strong commitment to continue working closely with Iran for peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy,' the statement said. In his meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Sharif focused on regional integration, energy cooperation, and the Trans-Afghan Railway Project, which is seen as vital for unlocking trade corridors between Central and South Asia. 'The two leaders agreed on visits of their senior ministers to Tashkent and Islamabad to finalize necessary agreements,' the PMO said, adding that both sides viewed their cultural and historical ties as a strong foundation for broader collaboration.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Malaysia arrests 36 Bangladeshis over IS support
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said Friday they have arrested 36 Bangladeshi migrant workers suspected of supporting the Daesh group by promoting its ideology and raising funds through social media. Police inspector-general Mohd Khalid Ismail said the Bangladesh nationals, who had arrived in Malaysia to work in factories, construction sites and petrol stations, were arrested in coordinated operations since April. 'The group attempted to recruit members to fight in Syria or for Daesh,' Khalid said in a televised news conference on Friday. 'They raised funds to be sent to Syria, and also to Bangladesh,' he said, adding that collections were transmitted through e-wallets and international funds transfer services. Once in control of large swathes of Syria and Iraq, Daesh was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 largely due to the efforts of Kurdish-led forces supported by an international coalition. It has maintained a presence mainly in the country's vast desert. Of those detained by Malaysian authorities, five suspects were subsequently charged for participating in terrorist organizations, spreading extremist ideologies and raising funds for terrorist activities. Another 16 are still being probed for their support of the militant movement, while 15 more have been issued deportation orders. 'We believe they have between 100 to 150 members in their WhatsApp group,' Khalid said, adding investigations were ongoing. 'They collected an annual membership fee of about $118 (500 Malaysian ringgit) while further donations were made at their own discretion,' the police chief said. Asked if the militant group had links to Daesh cells in other countries, Khalid said the police were still working with 'our counterparts in other countries as well as Interpol... to uncover their terror network.' Malaysia depends significantly on foreign workers to meet labor demands in the nation's key manufacturing and agriculture sectors, with tens of thousands of Bangladeshi nationals arriving each year to fill these roles.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Escaped lion attacks woman and children in Pakistan street
LAHORE: An escaped pet lion chased a woman and two children down a busy street in Pakistan's Lahore, police said Friday, with dramatic footage showing the big cat leaping a wall before pouncing on them. CCTV footage released by the police showed the lion jumping the barrier around its home and pursuing a woman carrying her shopping on Thursday night. The lion jumped on her back, knocking her to the ground, the footage showed. A police report quoted the father as saying the lion then turned to his five-year-old and seven-year-old children, and clawed their arms and faces. All three were taken to hospital but were not in a critical condition. The owners who ran out of the house were 'amused to see their lion attack' the passersby, the father added in the report. Police said Friday they had arrested three men. 'The suspects fled from the spot, taking the lion with them. They were arrested within 12 hours of the incident,' the office of the Deputy Inspector General Operations in Lahore told AFP. The lion, an 11-month-old male, has been confiscated by police and sent to a wildlife park. Officials at the facility said that the animal appears to be in good health. Keeping exotic animals, especially big cats, as pets has long been seen as a sign of privilege and power in Punjab, the most populous province of the country. In December 2024, an adult lion escaped from its enclosure in another neighborhood of Lahore, terrorizing residents before being shot dead by a security guard. The incident prompted the provincial government to pass new laws regulating the sale, purchase, breeding and ownership of big cats. The law now requires owners to obtain licenses for the animals which are barred from being kept in residential areas. Breeders have to pay a hefty fee for registration, while farms have to be a minimum of 10 acres in size.
