Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Pakistani troops killed at least 33 suspected militants in a dramatic overnight operation near the volatile Afghan border, the military announced Friday, underscoring a surge in cross-border violence that Islamabad blames on the Taliban regime in Kabul.
The firefight erupted in the rugged Zhob district of Balochistan province, where security forces intercepted what officials described as “Khwarij” — a term used by Pakistan for members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban. According to the military, the fighters were attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan, part of a growing trend of incursions since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Pakistan alleges that many TTP leaders enjoy safe haven across the frontier, a charge Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers deny. On Friday, Pakistani authorities went further, claiming the militants were backed by India — a long-running accusation in Islamabad’s tense rivalry with New Delhi. No evidence was provided, and India has yet to comment.
A sweeping search operation was still underway Friday to track down any remaining insurgents. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the clash as a “successful operation” and praised the country’s security forces for “defending the homeland against terrorism.”
The Balochistan government has suspended mobile internet services across parts of the province until August 31, citing security risks. The blackout comes ahead of Pakistan’s August 14 Independence Day celebrations, when insurgents have historically targeted flag vendors and nationalist gatherings.
Balochistan — Pakistan’s largest but least-populated province — has long been a hotbed of separatist unrest and extremist violence, where the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and Pakistani Taliban factions carry out bombings, ambushes, and assassinations. Officials claim the insurgency has been weakened, but sporadic attacks continue to unsettle the region.
Friday’s clash follows a spike in militant activity across Pakistan. In April, security forces in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed 54 TTP fighters in what authorities described as the deadliest single-day blow to the group this year. The TTP, though ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban, operates independently and has intensified attacks since 2021, often targeting Pakistani security forces, infrastructure, and political gatherings.
The Afghan Taliban’s return to power has emboldened the group, according to analysts, with many of its leaders finding sanctuary in Afghanistan’s border provinces. The renewed violence threatens to destabilize Pakistan’s western frontier and derail efforts to bring lasting peace to a region already grappling with poverty, underdevelopment, and political discontent.
