Pak-Afghan border: 25 killed in botched intrusion attempts

RAWALPINDI: Foiled two latest attempts to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, security forces eliminated 25 Fitna al-Khawarij members in North Waziristan and Kurram, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday, just days after a ceasefire agreement between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul and the ongoing second round of talks in Turkiye.

On the other hand, another five soldiers sacrificed their lives in intense exchange of fire for serving and protecting Pakistan, as the ISPR said the intrusion attempts raised questions about the motives of Afghan interim government [Taliban regime].

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Fitna al-Khawarij is the term which the Pakistan government uses for different terrorist groups — TTP, Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Daesh and others — to show the same ideology that they represent.

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TALKS IN TURKIYE, TERRORISM AT BORDER

The development comes at a time when Pakistan and Afghanistan are holding second round of talks in Turkiye after reaching a ceasefire agreement last week in Qatar.

Read more: ‘Open war’ likely with Afghanistan if Istanbul talks fail, warns Khawaja Asif

Sharing the details, the ISPR said 15 of dead Khawarij had been killed in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan along the Pak-Afghan border, Four of them were suicide bombers.

On the other hand, security forces neutralised the remaining 10 in Ghaqai — border area in Kurram district of Kurram, one of the merged districts of erstwhile FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas).

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The two intrusions attempts also coincide with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Sohail Afridi’s speech at Bara, Khyber district, where he again called for stopping the military operation against the Khawarij — echoing jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

It is a demand that has raised serious questions about the PTI and its leadership.

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STOP USING AGHANISTAN AS BASE AGAINST PAKISTAN

The ISPR also shared the identities of martyred soldiers: Hawaldar Manzoor Hussain, Sepoy Nauman Ilyas Kiani, Sepoy Muhammad Adil, Sepoy Shahjahan and Sepoy Ali Asghar.

As the ISPR questioned the Taliban regime’s motives, it mentioned that the intrusion attempts came amid the ongoing talks in Turkiye, which started Saturday.

Pakistan has always demanded effective management. military’s media wing recalled and said the Afghan interim government must ensure implementation of the Doha Accord.

The deal was signed in 2020 during the first term of US President Donald Trump, which paved the way for the Kabul takeover very next year.

In this connection, the ISPR said Kabul must stop the use of Afghan territory against Pakistan and made it clear that Pakistan would continue with the “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam” for completely eradicating the menace of terrorism.

It’s a developing story. Details to follow.

Web Desk