Pakistani forces kill 15 militants trying to cross from Afghanistan

Pakistan’s armed forces engaged a group of 15 militants trying to cross the border into North Waziristan, killing all of them after a 36-hour firefight. The fighters were labeled as Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used for the Pakistani Taliban, and the military accused India of sponsoring the attack. Acting President Yousaf Raza Gilani lauded the security forces for stopping the infiltration and vowed continued counter-terrorism actions.

The foreign ministry, citing a recent Chinese diplomatic visit, said any progress in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations requires verifiable written guarantees that Afghan territory will not be used for attacks. The incident underscores ongoing accusations that the Afghan Taliban government is failing to control its borders.