25 terrorists slain in N Waziristan, Kurram; 5 soldiers embrace martyrdom; Leaders vow to pursue Azm-e-Istehkam
Before Zarb-e-Azb, North Waziristan was declared as a hub of militants and many of them slipped into other parts of the country. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI:
Security forces foiled major attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Pakistan from across the Afghan border in the Kurram and North Waziristan districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), killing 25 of them, including four suicide bombers, the military said on Sunday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistani troops effectively engaged the groups of infiltrators. However, during the fierce exchange of fire, five soldiers embraced martyrdom.
These infiltration attempts by Fitna al-Khawarij — a term used for terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — occurred at a time when delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in talks in Turkiye.
“On 24-25 October 2025, movements of two large groups of Khawarij opposite the general area of Ghaki in Kurram District and Spinwam in North Waziristan District — who were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border — were picked up by security forces,” the statement read.
“Our troops effectively engaged these groups of Khawarij. As a result of precise and skilful engagements, fifteen terrorists, including four suicide bombers belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij, were sent to hell in Spinwam, North Waziristan District, while another ten infiltrators were killed in Ghaki, Kurram District,” it added.
“During the intense exchange of fire, five brave sons of the soil fought gallantly and embraced shahadat,” the ISPR said, adding that a large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered from the slain militants.
The martyred soldiers were identified as Havildar Manzoor Hussain (35) of Ghizar District; Sepoy Nauman Ilyas Kiyani (23) of Poonch District; Sepoy Muhammad Adil (24) of Kasur District; Sepoy Shah Jehan (25) of Vehari District; and Sepoy Ali Asghar (25) of Pakpattan District.
The ISPR said that these infiltration bids, coinciding with ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Turkiye, “cast doubts on the intentions of the Interim Afghan Government regarding its commitment to addressing terrorism emanating from its soil.”
“Pakistan has consistently urged the Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management and to fulfil its obligations under the Doha Agreement by denying the use of Afghan soil to the Khawarij against Pakistan,” the statement said.
According to the military’s media wing, Pakistan’s security forces remain resolute in defending the nation’s frontiers. “The sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it said, adding that sanitisation operations were under way to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.
The ISPR reaffirmed that the “relentless counterterrorism campaign” under Azm-e-Istehkam – as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan — will “continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.”
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid glowing tributes to the security forces for successfully foiling the infiltration attempts in Kurram and North Waziristan, vowing that the nation would remain steadfast until terrorism is completely eradicated.
President Zardari lauded the courage and sacrifice of the armed forces, commending their unwavering commitment to defending the motherland. He paid homage to the five personnel who embraced martyrdom during the operation, calling them heroes who made the nation proud.
“The evil intentions of the Khawarij and their Indian patrons will never succeed,” the president declared, reiterating that operations under Azm-e-Istehkam would continue until the complete elimination of terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the successful counterterrorism operations, describing them as a decisive step against the militants. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of five personnel and said, “The entire nation salutes the security forces for their courage and sacrifices.”
Both leaders reaffirmed that the fight against terrorism was not only a military campaign but also a moral and national duty, calling for unity and vigilance to ensure lasting peace and stability across the country.
