Pakistan army says it killed 30 militants while trying to cross from Afghanistan

Pakistan’s army said Friday (July 4, 2025) it had killed 30 militants attempting to cross the border from Afghanistan over the last three days, after 16 soldiers died in a suicide attack in the same frontier region last week.

The militants belonged to the Pakistan Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement accusing arch foe India of backing them.

“The security forces demonstrated exceptional professionalism, vigilance preparedness, and prevented a potential catastrophe,” it said.

“A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered,” the statement added.

The killings took place in the border district of North Waziristan, where last week 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide attack claimed by a faction of the Pakistan Taliban.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the security forces for “thwarting an infiltration attempt”.

“We are determined to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country,” his office said in a statement Friday.