The Pakistani military has announced that its forces killed 35 members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In a strongly worded statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) accused citizens of Afghanistan of direct physical involvement in the attacks.
“These heinous acts were carried out with undeniable participation of Afghan nationals,” the army said, citing intelligence reports.
The military reiterated its long-standing concern about the use of Afghan territory by the TTP to launch attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad called on the Taliban to uphold their commitments and prevent “terrorists” from using Afghanistan as a base of operations.
According to the ISPR, the operations were conducted between September 9 and 12. In Bajaur district, 22 TTP fighters were killed following a heavy exchange of fire. Another 13 were killed in South Waziristan during a separate engagement in which 12 Pakistani soldiers also lost their lives.
The Pakistan Army claimed it recovered weapons and military equipment from the insurgents and vowed to eliminate what it referred to as the “Indian-backed terrorist menace.”
The recent escalation underscores growing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban over cross-border militancy. Despite repeated denials from Kabul, Islamabad continues to allege that Afghanistan’s soil is being used to harbor and support anti-Pakistan militants.
