RAWALPINDI, 03 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Security forces have foiled an infiltration attempt by Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border near North Waziristan, killing 15 militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).The military’s media wing said the militants attempted to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan during the night between August 31 and September 1. Security forces confronted the infiltrators and successfully thwarted the attempt after an operation that continued for approximately 36 hours. According to the ISPR, 15 militants belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij were killed during the operation. During the follow-up sanitisation operation, a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed militants. The ISPR said the recovery further exposed the “nefarious designs” of the Khawarij and their facilitators, who were allegedly seeking to disrupt peace and stability in Pakistan. The military’s media wing stated that the Afghan Taliban government had failed to prevent militants from using Afghan territory for terrorist activities against Pakistan. It also accused the Afghan government of failing to establish effective border management and fulfil its international responsibilities. Pakistan’s security forces remain determined to defend the country’s borders, the ISPR said, adding that clearance operations are continuing in the area to eliminate other militants allegedly operating with Indian support. The military further stated that counterterrorism operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam initiative would continue with full momentum to eliminate the threat of terrorism from the country. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for foiling the infiltration attempt near North Waziristan and killing 15 Khawarij militants belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan. In separate statements, the president and prime minister commended the security forces for thwarting the militants’ plans through their professionalism, patience and bravery.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that terrorist elements backed by external forces would never be allowed to create unrest in the country. He praised the commitment of the security forces to defending the country’s borders and safeguarding peace and stability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his resolve to continue the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign with full force to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan. He said the entire nation takes pride in its brave armed forces, which remain determined to defend the country’s borders and ensure national security. Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also paid tribute to the security forces for foiling the India-backed infiltration attempt by Fitna al-Khawarij along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan. In a statement issued by the Presidency, the acting president praised the professionalism and bravery of the security forces for killing 15 militants during the operation. Yousuf Raza Gilani said India-backed terrorists would never be allowed to obstruct Pakistan’s peace, stability and journey toward prosperity. He added that the efforts of the security forces and law-enforcement agencies would continue until the complete elimination of terrorism from the country.