
Troops kill 30 militants attempting to sneak into Pakistan from Afghanistan
The militants belonged to the Pakistan Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement accusing archfoe India of backing them.
"The security forces demonstrated exceptional professionalism, vigilance preparedness, and prevented a potential catastrophe," it said. "A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered," the statement added.
It said the members of the Pakistani Taliban were spotted overnight in the North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the troops seized weapons, ammunition and explosives from the militants. The military's statement did not mention if there was a gunfight or other details of the operation.
The military alleged the militants were backed by India and asked the Afghan government to prevent the use of its territory by "foreign proxies' to attack Pakistan.
There was no immediate comment from New Delhi. Pakistani authorities often accuse India of backing outlawed groups like the Baloch Liberation Army and Pakistani Taliban who commit violence in Pakistan. Such accusations have increased since a shooting in Jammu and Kashmir in April heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed nations.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif praised security forces for the successful operation.
Shahbaz lauded the security forces for "thwarting an infiltration attempt." "We are determined to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country," his office said. The prime minister's statement also accused New Delhi of fomenting militancy in Pakistan.
Pakistani troops killed 54 insurgents in the same area in April.
miAgencies
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
11 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Azerbaijan to invest $2 billion in economic sector of Pakistan
Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Friday signed a partnership agreement of US$2 billion investment in Pakistan, reflecting the continuing flow of investment in Pakistan, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. In the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov signed the agreement for investment of a total of US$2 billion by Azerbaijan in the economic sector of Pakistan. The agreement was signed between the two countries after a cordial meeting between the Prime Minister and the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Khankandi. The agreement has taken investment and trade relations between the two countries to a historic level, according to APP. The agreement will prove to be a milestone for further promotion of brotherly relations between the two countries and for strengthening of trade partnership. Both countries also agreed on further exchanges to promote cooperation in various sectors. WAM


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Russia first country to recognise Taliban govt
Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a "brave decision". The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law. They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989. The announcement was made after Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday. "This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting on X. The flag of Afghanistan flutters at its embassy in Moscow on Friday. Reuters "Russia is the first country which has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate," Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the government's name for their administration. Muttaqi said it was "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement", the foreign ministry posted on X. Russia's foreign ministry added on Telegram: "We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas." It highlighted potential "commercial and economic" cooperation in "energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure". 'Fight terrorism' The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul "reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of terrorism and drug-trafficking". Moscow has taken recent steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities, removing them from a list of "terrorist organisations" in April and accepting a Taliban ambassador in Kabul. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban "allies in the fight against terrorism". Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia. 'Allies' Only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates recognised the Taliban during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. This time, multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate since the end of the then-insurgency's two-decade war with US-led NATO troops. There has been limited but growing engagement with the Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbours, but also major global players China and Russia. China on Friday said it welcomed Russia's decision. An official gestures next to the flag of Afghanistan as he stands on the balcony of the Afghan embassy in Moscow on July 4, 2025. AFP "As a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, the Chinese side has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. However, restrictions on women and girls, barring them from education and squeezing them from public life, have been key sticking points for Western nations. Multiple Afghan women activists were quick to condemn Russia's recognition. The move "legitimises a regime that bans girls from education, enforces public floggings, and shelters UN-sanctioned terrorists", said Mariam Solaimankhil, former member of Afghanistan's parliament. "The move signals that strategic interests will always outweigh human rights and international law." Senior Taliban figures remain under international sanctions, including by the United Nations. Another former MP in Kabul, Fawzia Koofi, said any recognition of the Taliban "will not bring peace it will legitimise impunity" and "risk endangering not just the people of Afghanistan, but also global security". Agence France-Presse


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Troops kill 30 militants attempting to sneak into Pakistan from Afghanistan
Pakistani security forces killed 30 militants who attempted to enter the country from Afghanistan, the military said on Friday. The militants belonged to the Pakistan Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement accusing archfoe India of backing them. "The security forces demonstrated exceptional professionalism, vigilance preparedness, and prevented a potential catastrophe," it said. "A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered," the statement added. It said the members of the Pakistani Taliban were spotted overnight in the North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the troops seized weapons, ammunition and explosives from the militants. The military's statement did not mention if there was a gunfight or other details of the operation. The military alleged the militants were backed by India and asked the Afghan government to prevent the use of its territory by "foreign proxies' to attack Pakistan. There was no immediate comment from New Delhi. Pakistani authorities often accuse India of backing outlawed groups like the Baloch Liberation Army and Pakistani Taliban who commit violence in Pakistan. Such accusations have increased since a shooting in Jammu and Kashmir in April heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed nations. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif praised security forces for the successful operation. Shahbaz lauded the security forces for "thwarting an infiltration attempt." "We are determined to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country," his office said. The prime minister's statement also accused New Delhi of fomenting militancy in Pakistan. Pakistani troops killed 54 insurgents in the same area in April. miAgencies