By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani security forces killed 13 militants belonging to “Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij” in two separate foiled infiltration attempts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on 28-29 April 2026, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.

In Mohmand District, security forces detected a group of militants attempting to cross the border and engaged them with precision fire, killing eight, according to the military’s media wing. In a second engagement in North Waziristan District, troops foiled another infiltration bid, neutralizing five militants after an intense exchange of fire.

“These engagements once again substantiate Pakistan’s repeated stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure effective border management on their side,” the ISPR statement said. It demanded that the Afghan Taliban “fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khwarij and involvement of its citizens in terrorism inside Pakistan.”

The military added that sanitization operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining militants, as the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” continues at full pace.

Thursday’s announcement marks the latest in a wave of cross-border violence that has severely strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations since February 2026.

The current crisis began when Pakistan launched targeted strikes against seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts across three eastern Afghan provinces, including Kunar, Nangarhar, and Khost. In subsequent weeks, Islamabad expanded its operations to include key Afghan military installations in Kabul and the strategic Bagram airbase.

The Afghan Taliban responded by mobilizing heavy weaponry along the border, and cross-border shelling has become increasingly frequent. On April 26 and 29, Pakistani officials reported that Afghan Taliban carried out unprovoked firing and shelling in South Waziristan adjacent to Bannu district, including the Angoor Adda area, injuring several civilians -- among them children aged three, eight, and ten.

 Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated its “one-point agenda” -- that Afghan territory must not be used to plan or execute attacks against Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban has summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires in Kabul to protest alleged Pakistani strikes on civilian areas, claims Islamabad dismisses as “frivolous and fake.”

With border crossings remaining closed since October 2025 and government-to-government contacts suspended, the region remains on edge. The ISPR reiterated on Thursday that security forces remain “resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers.