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Pakistani troops kill 30 militants attempting to sneak into country from Afghanistan

Pakistan Army troops patrol along the fence on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Big Ben hilltop post in Khyber district, 3 August, 2021
Pakistan Army troops patrol along the fence on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Big Ben hilltop post in Khyber district, 3 August, 2021 Copyright  AP Photo
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By Gavin Blackburn with AP
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Militant violence has surged in Pakistan in recent months, much of it blamed on the Pakistani Taliban which is separate from the Afghan Taliban but closely allied with them.

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Pakistani security forces killed 30 militants who attempted to enter the country from Afghanistan, the military said on Friday.

It said the members of the Pakistani Taliban, known officially as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were spotted overnight in the North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the troops seized weapons, ammunition and explosives from the militants.

The military's statement did not give any further details about the operation.

The military alleged the militants were backed by India and asked the Afghan government to prevent the use of its territory by "foreign proxies" to attack Pakistan.

There was no immediate comment from New Delhi.

Taliban fighters patrol near the closed Torkham border with Pakistan in Torkham, 3 March, 2025
Taliban fighters patrol near the closed Torkham border with Pakistan in Torkham, 3 March, 2025 AP Photo

Pakistani authorities often accuse India of backing outlawed groups like the Baloch Liberation Army and Pakistani Taliban who commit violence in Pakistan.

Such accusations have increased since a shooting in Indian-controlled Kashmir in April heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed nations.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both praised security forces for the successful operation.

Pakistani troops killed 54 insurgents in the same area in April.

Militant violence has surged in Pakistan in recent months, much of it blamed on the Pakistani Taliban.

The group is separate from the Afghan Taliban but closely allied with them. Many of its leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021.

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