Security forces killed eight militants during an intelligence-based operation along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border in North Waziristan, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday.
The military said the movement of a group identified as “Fitna al-Khawarij” was detected on April 1. Troops engaged the group in what ISPR described as a “precise and skillful” operation, resulting in the deaths of all eight suspected militants. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.
In its statement, ISPR reiterated concerns over cross-border militancy, stating that the situation reflects gaps in border management on the Afghan side. It urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent the use of their territory for attacks inside Pakistan.
A follow-up clearance operation is ongoing in the area to ensure no additional militants remain, the military added.
The development comes amid a broader rise in militant activity in Pakistan’s western border regions since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Security operations have intensified under the counterterrorism framework “Azm-e-Istehkam,” alongside large-scale actions such as Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, launched in response to escalating cross-border threats.
Officials say tensions have periodically flared along the frontier, including clashes in late 2025 that resulted in casualties on both sides. Despite multiple rounds of engagement, a coordinated mechanism to curb cross-border militancy remains unresolved.