Pakistan Army Kills 30 Fighters Attempting to Cross Afghan Border

Pakistan Army Kills 30 Fighters Attempting to Cross Afghan Border
—————————
Pakistan’s army announced it killed 30 fighters linked to the Pakistan Taliban and its affiliates trying to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan’s North Waziristan district, Al Jazeera reported. The operation, carried out over the last three days, followed a suicide attack in the same region that killed 16 Pakistani soldiers.

The military praised its troops for preventing “a potential catastrophe” and confirmed the seizure of a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended security forces for thwarting the infiltration attempt and reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism.

Both the army and the prime minister blamed India for supporting militant groups, accusations New Delhi denies. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated, especially after a deadly four-day conflict in May and ongoing violence in Pakistan’s border areas since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan in 2021.

Pakistan recently increased defense spending by 20%, allocating 14% of its budget to the military amid rising security challenges.