2025 North Waziristan border clashes
| April 2025 North Waziristan border clashes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan |
  Pakistani Taliban (Allegedly) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Asim Munir Shehbaz Sharif Asif Ali Zardari | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Unknown | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Not disclosed | Large militant group | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 0 | 71 militants killed | ||||||
| Weapons, ammunition, and explosives recovered | |||||||
Between 25 and 28 April 2025, Pakistani Armed Forces engaged a large group of militants attempting infiltration along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border near Hassan Khel, North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In two days of clashes, 54 militants were killed, followed by a sanitization operation that eliminated 17 more, raising the total to 71. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered. The incident marked one of the deadliest border clashes in recent years.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]North Waziristan has long been a hotspot for militant activity, particularly involving the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).[4][5] Following the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan has experienced a surge in cross-border attacks, with many TTP fighters allegedly finding sanctuary across the border.[6][7]
Attack
[edit]According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistani security forces detected a large group of militants attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Security forces engaged the infiltrators, resulting in the deaths of 54 militants.[8] The military described the attackers as "Khwarij," a term used for extremists associated with the Pakistani Taliban, and stated that the militants were allegedly planning high-profile attacks within Pakistan.[9]
The following night, on 28 April, an additional 17 militants were killed in an overnight operation in North Waziristan, bringing the total number of insurgents killed in the region over three days to 71.[10][11]
Reactions
[edit]Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's Interior Minister, praised the operation as a major success in preempting terrorist attacks.[4] President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for their efforts.[12]
Regional tensions
[edit]The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India.[13] India had recently accused Pakistan of involvement in a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, an allegation Pakistan has denied. The Pakistani military suggested that the infiltration attempt was timed to coincide with such accusations.[14][15]
Aftermath
[edit]On 28 April 2025, a bombing outside a pro-government peace committee office in Wana, South Waziristan, resulted in at least seven deaths and sixteen injuries.[16] No group immediately claimed responsibility, but officials suspected the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.[17]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Masood, Salman (27 April 2025). "Pakistan Says It Killed 54 Militants Trying to Enter From Afghanistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "17 more terrorists 'backed by Indian masters' killed at Pak-Afghan border: ISPR". The Express Tribune. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ PTI (28 April 2025). "17 terrorists killed by security forces in Pakistan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ a b "54 terrorists killed as infiltration bid foiled on Pak-Afghan border: ISPR". Daily Pakistan English News. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan: Investigate North Waziristan killings". Amnesty International. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan troops kill 54 militants crossing Afghanistan border: army". South China Morning Post. 27 April 2025. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Media seminar in N Waziristan marks a new beginning". The News International. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistani troops kill 54 Afghan militants trying to cross the border". France 24. 27 April 2025. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pak Army Says Killed 54 Militants Trying To Cross Border From Afghanistan". NDTV. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "17 more terrorists 'backed by Indian masters' killed at Pak-Afghan border: ISPR". The Express Tribune. 28 April 2025. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Bombing in a former stronghold of Pakistani Taliban kills 7 people and wounds 16". Associated Press. 28 April 2025. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan army says 54 militants killed attempting to enter from Afghanistan". Arab News. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Sharma, Yashraj. "'Burst balloon': How Pahalgam attack shattered Modi's Kashmir narrative". Al Jazeera Media Network. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistani forces kill 54 militants trying to cross Afghan border: Army - IRNA English". en.irna.ir. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Bukhari, Fayaz; Patel, Shivam (28 April 2025). "India, Pakistan exchange small arms fire, China urges restraint". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistani troops kill 54 militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan". Hindustan Times. 27 April 2025. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan army says 71 militants killed in three days of operations in northwest". Arab News PK. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.