RAWALPINDI:
Security forces thwarted a major infiltration attempt from Afghanistan, killing at least 33 terrorists in the Zhob district of Balochistan, the military said in a statement on Friday, adding that a “sanitisation operation” is ongoing for residual terrorist elements in the area.
The movement of a sizeable group of Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij was detected by security forces in the Sambaza area of Zhob on the night between August 7and 8, the military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement. They were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
“Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. As a result of precise, bold and skillful engagement, 33 Indian-sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell,” it added. “A large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered.”
Terrorists from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the group responsible for much of terrorist violence in the country, have officially been designated as “Fitna al Khwarij” who officials claim receive financial and material support from India’s intelligence agency RAW.
“A sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Khwarij found in the area,” the ISPR added. “The security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and to eradicate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for successfully foiling the infiltration attempt. “The brave personnel of the security forces risked their lives to stop the terrorists and frustrate their nefarious designs,” he said in a statement issued by his office.
The premier emphasised the nation’s support for the security forces, saying that “the entire nation stands with the security forces in their fight against terrorism.” He reiterated his commitment to eliminating all forms of terrorism from the country and underscored the government’s determination to maintain peace and security.
The TTP and its affiliated groups had fled across the border into Afghanistan following their rout in a major military operation, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb, in the erstwhile tribal areas of Pakistan in 2014. There, they found safe havens which they have since used as launch pads for attacks inside Pakistan.
In Afghanistan, the TTP developed a symbiotic relationship with other terrorist groups — particularly the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — to step up attacks in Pakistan. Pakistani officials say they have credible evidence of tactical and strategic coordination between the BLA’s lethal Majeed Brigade and the TTP.
These claims were reinforced by the latest report of the UN Security Council, which explicitly states that the BLA – including its Majeed Brigade – and the TTP maintain “close coordination” in their terrorist activities. The report cites high-profile, complex attacks claimed by these groups in 2025 to illustrate the level of operational synchronisation between them.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to honour its commitment under the Doha Accord not to allow Afghan soil to be used by any transnational group against other countries in the region and beyond. However, the Taliban regime has been reluctant to take action against these groups, amid reports it seeks to use them as leverage in negotiations with neighbouring states.
