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Pakistan Army kills 22 terrorists near Afghan border, child killed by militants in fire: ISPR

By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan army on Friday said security forces killed 22 militants in an intelligence-based operation in northwestern Khyber District near the Afghan border.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the joint operation involving security forces and law enforcement agencies was carried out on April 21 after reports of militant presence in the area. Troops engaged in an intense exchange of fire, resulting in the deaths of 22 suspected militants.

The ISPR said the militants opened indiscriminate fire during the operation, which led to the death of a 10-year-old child caught in the crossfire.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, with the military alleging the group had been involved in multiple attacks in the region.

Pakistan’s military described the militants as part of a network it accuses of being Indian-sponsored, and said a follow-up “sanitization operation” is underway to clear the area of any remaining fighters.

The operation is part of a broader counterterrorism campaign under the national strategy known as Azm-e-Istehkam, aimed at eliminating militant groups operating along the border regions.

Pakistan has in recent months reported an increase in militant activity, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan, with authorities vowing to intensify operations to curb the violence.