Pakistan Army Thwarts Militant Infiltration, Killing 16 Near Afghan Border

Islamabad, March 23 – Pakistan’s army announced on Sunday that it had killed 16 Islamist militants in a nighttime exchange of fire along the country’s western border with Afghanistan. The incident occurred in North Waziristan district between March 22 and 23, as border troops successfully repelled an infiltration attempt.
“Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate,” the army stated, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region. Islamabad has accused Afghanistan of providing safe havens to militants who target Pakistan and its military, a claim that Kabul has consistently denied.
The clash coincided with a two-day official visit to Kabul by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan. According to a statement from Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul, Khan’s visit is focused on discussions surrounding bilateral and economic issues.
The incident underscores the fragile security dynamics along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as both nations grapple with cross-border militancy and diplomatic tensions.