22 Militants Killed Near Afghanistan Border

Pakistan has announced that its security forces killed 22 militants during clashes in the north-west of the country near the border with Afghanistan, in one of the latest incidents along the volatile frontier.

The military said in a statement that a joint operation was carried out on Tuesday involving security forces and law enforcement agencies, resulting in heavy exchanges of fire that led to the deaths of the militants.

The operation took place in the Khyber District, a key border area that has long been affected by militant activity and cross-border tensions.

Authorities also confirmed that a 10-year-old child was killed during the firefight, prompting condemnation from Pakistan’s leadership.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the child’s death, describing it as the result of what he called unprovoked militant fire, according to an official statement.

Security operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have intensified in recent years, with several attacks attributed to factions linked to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan operating in the region.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of providing safe haven to militants since the return of Taliban to power in 2021, a claim denied by authorities in Kabul.

The dispute has contributed to strained relations between the two neighboring countries and recurring cross-border clashes, highlighting ongoing instability in the border regions.