Pakistan Army kills 30 militants near Afghan border

Pakistan’s military announced on Friday that its forces had killed 30 militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan over the past three days, following a recent suicide bombing that killed 16 soldiers in the same region.

The army identified the attackers as members of the Pakistan Taliban or affiliated groups and claimed they were backed by India—an accusation New Delhi denies.

The clash occurred in North Waziristan, a volatile border district where a Pakistan Taliban faction recently claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide attack on military personnel.

A military statement praised the "exceptional professionalism and vigilance" of the troops, noting that a significant cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives had been recovered during the operation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the forces for preventing further violence, reiterating the government's resolve to eradicate terrorism. His office also echoed claims of Indian involvement in fuelling militancy within Pakistan.

Tensions have been high in the region. In May, India and Pakistan exchanged their worst cross-border violence in decades, resulting in 70 fatalities. The conflict erupted after India accused Pakistan of supporting gunmen behind a deadly attack in Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead. Islamabad has denied involvement.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, violence has escalated in Pakistan’s border areas. The Pakistan Taliban—ideologically aligned but separate from the Afghan Taliban—has stepped up attacks, particularly in the northwest.

Pakistan is also contending with a long-running insurgency by Baloch separatists in its southwestern border region.

So far in 2025, more than 290 people—mostly security personnel—have been killed in militant attacks. In response, Pakistan’s government increased defence spending by 20% in June, allocating 14% of its federal budget to the military.