Pakistan’s military says it has killed 47 militants in a two-day anti-infiltration operation along the border with Afghanistan in Balochistan’s Zhob district.
In a statement on Saturday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the engagements took place in the general area of Sambaza between 7 and 8 August, when security forces “sent thirty-three khwarij to hell”.
On the night of 8–9 August, the military said it carried out a “deliberate sanitization operation” in the surrounding border areas, killing 14 more militants described as “Indian-sponsored khwarij”. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered, ISPR added.
“The number of khwarij killed in the two-day anti-infiltration operation has risen to forty-seven,” the military said, adding that security forces remain committed to securing the country’s frontiers and “thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Pakistan.”
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the operation, commending security forces for killing Indian-backed terrorists in Zhob district and reaffirming the firm commitment to root out terrorism. He said the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with their security forces in the war against terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also hailed the operation, saying the militants, described as terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij, had attempted to infiltrate Pakistan from Afghanistan.
The brave personnel of our security forces risked their lives to thwart the terrorists’ infiltration and crushed their evil designs, Sharif said, adding that the entire nation stands united with security forces in the fight against terrorism and reaffirming the government’s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country.
The operation took place along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, an area where Islamabad has long accused militants of operating from Afghan territory. There has been no immediate response from Afghan authorities.
