Border clash: 54 terrorists killed in North Waziristan showdown

Security forces crush major infiltration bid from Afghanistan

STATE OF THE NATION

 April 28, 2025

A TOTAL of 54 terrorists attempting to enter Pakistan via the Afghanistan border, near the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), have been killed, according to the military’s media wing.

Daily Dawn quoted the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as stating that this marks the highest number of khawarij killed by security forces in a single engagement during the ongoing campaign against terrorism.

Pakistan has seen a surge in terror incidents over the past year, particularly in KP and Balochistan, following the breakdown of a ceasefire with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in November 2022.

"During the nights of 25–26 and 26–27 April 2025, the movement of a large group of khawarij attempting to infiltrate across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was detected by security forces in the Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan," the ISPR said. "Our troops engaged the infiltrators with precision and thwarted their attempt. As a result of the skilful and decisive engagement, all 54 khawarij were sent to hell," the statement added.

A substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the slain terrorists. Intelligence reports suggest that the group was infiltrating at the behest of "foreign masters" to carry out high-profile attacks within Pakistan, the ISPR said.

Responding to India’s "baseless accusations against Pakistan", the military highlighted that the actions of Fitna al-Khawarij — a term the state uses for the banned TTP — "clearly indicate under whose direction FAK is operating". The statement described such acts as treason and betrayal against the state and its people.

Tensions with India

The ISPR referred to the recent National Security Committee meeting, convened to address India's downgrading of diplomatic relations with Pakistan and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. It stated that India's strategic aim appeared to be to divert Pakistan’s security focus from the war against terrorism, thereby providing breathing space to FAK, which has been weakened by the armed forces' sustained operations.

The ISPR praised the "exceptional professionalism, vigilance, and preparedness" of the security forces, whose efforts thwarted a "potential catastrophe". It reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remain steadfast in defending the nation’s frontiers and eradicating terrorism.

"Such bold and decisive actions strengthen our collective resolve and demonstrate that Pakistan is winning the war against terrorism, achieving significant successes," the statement concluded.

Further encounters with terrorists

Separately, the ISPR reported that two soldiers were martyred and 15 terrorists killed during three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the statement, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted on Friday and Saturday. Eight terrorists were "sent to hell" during an IBO in the Karak district after troops engaged their location.

Another four terrorists were killed in an operation in North Waziristan, while three more were neutralised in an encounter in the Gomal Zam area of South Waziristan district.

However, during the intense exchanges of fire, two soldiers – Lance Naik Usman Mohmand (aged 28, resident of Charsadda district) and Sepoy Imran Khan (aged 26, resident of Kurram district) – fought valiantly but embraced martyrdom.