54 Khwarij killed as an infiltration attempt was thwarted

54 Khwarij killed as an infiltration attempt was thwarted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Security forces in Pakistan killed 54 terrorists who attempted to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a statement from the military’s media wing on Sunday. This marked the highest number of terrorists killed in a single engagement throughout Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism operations.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the terrorists, identified as khwarij by the state, were attempting to cross the border from Afghanistan on the night of April 25-27, 2025. Security forces detected their movement in the Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan and swiftly thwarted their infiltration attempt. The engagement resulted in the deaths of all 54 terrorists, with a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives recovered from the slain militants.

The ISPR also highlighted that intelligence reports suggested the group was infiltrating Pakistan on the instructions of their “foreign masters” to carry out high-profile terrorist activities within the country. It further emphasized that the involvement of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in these actions linked the group to external influence, specifically targeting Pakistan’s security. The statement condemned India’s accusations against Pakistan, accusing them of indirectly supporting the TTP’s activities.

In light of these developments, the ISPR referred to a recent National Security Council meeting that discussed India’s downgrading of diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The ISPR suggested that India’s actions aimed at distracting Pakistan’s security forces from their counterterrorism efforts, which had been making significant progress. The statement commended the professionalism and vigilance of the security forces, emphasizing that Pakistan remains committed to eradicating terrorism.

Additionally, the ISPR reported the martyrdom of two soldiers and the killing of 15 terrorists in separate security engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These actions, part of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted on Friday and Saturday, resulted in the neutralization of several terrorists, with troops successfully engaging militants in Karak, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan districts.

The military expressed its unwavering commitment to defend Pakistan’s borders and continue the fight against terrorism, stating that recent operations demonstrated significant progress in overcoming militant violence.