The Pakistan Army killed four terrorists, including a top Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander, during an infiltration attempt from Afghanistan. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces detected the movement of militants in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, late Wednesday night. The troops engaged the infiltrators with precision and eliminated all four. Among the dead was Amjad alias Mazahim, a high-value TTP leader and deputy to the group’s chief Noor Wali Mehsud.
ISPR described Amjad as the head of the TTP’s Rehbari Shura and a key planner of cross-border attacks. He had a bounty of Rs5 million on his head and was operating from Afghanistan. The military said the group aimed to create an illusion of local presence in Bajaur and Mohmand. However, recent operations by Pakistani forces have weakened their networks. ISPR urged the Afghan interim government to prevent its soil from being used for terrorism against Pakistan.
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President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for their successful operation in Bajaur. He said the troops’ courage reflected the nation’s resolve under the Azm-i-Istehkam campaign. In a post on social media, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s unity against terrorism and foreign-backed groups. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also lauded the operation, saying the entire nation stood behind its defenders.
Earlier the same day, security forces killed 18 militants in two separate operations in Balochistan. ISPR said the terrorists belonged to the Indian-backed group Fitna al-Hindustan. Fourteen militants were killed in Quetta’s Chiltan range and four more in Buleda, Kech district. Weapons, explosives, and ammunition were recovered from their hideouts. The military said more sanitisation operations were underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the forces for their bravery and commitment. He said Pakistan would continue fighting terrorism in all its forms until peace was fully restored. The operations come amid a rise in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since 2022. Security forces, however, continue to strike back, reaffirming Pakistan’s determination to crush terrorism and safeguard its borders.