NextFin news, Pakistani security forces conducted raids on two Pakistani Taliban hideouts near the Afghan border on Friday and Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 35 militants and 12 soldiers, the Pakistani military announced on Saturday.
The first operation took place in Bajaur, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 22 militants were killed. The second raid occurred in South Waziristan district, where 13 militants and 12 soldiers lost their lives during intense fighting.
The military described the fallen soldiers as having "fought gallantly" and paid the "ultimate sacrifice" in South Waziristan. The militants killed were identified as members of the Pakistani Taliban, locally referred to as "Khwarij."
According to the military, the militants have been using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Pakistani army urged the Taliban government in Kabul to prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
The Pakistani military also alleged that the militants were backed by India, although no evidence was provided to support this claim. Pakistan has historically accused India of supporting militant groups within its borders, a charge denied by New Delhi.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is a separate entity from the Afghan Taliban but maintains close ties. The group has intensified its activities since the Afghan Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, with many militants reportedly finding sanctuary across the border.
There was no immediate response from the Taliban government in Kabul or from Indian authorities regarding the military's statements.
These clashes highlight ongoing security challenges faced by Pakistan in controlling militant insurgencies along its border with Afghanistan.
Source: Associated Press report published by ABC News on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
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