Pakistani forces say they killed 23 militants in two raids near the Afghan border—12 in the first operation and 11 in a second—following a Nov. 11 suicide bombing in Islamabad. The military described the dead as "khawarij," a term it uses for banned militant groups including the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). Pakistani leaders have accused India and pointed to Afghan links, which both countries deny. Analysts warn the TTP has stepped up attacks since 2021, with incidents rising to 856 in 2024 from 645 in 2023.
Pakistan Reports 23 Militants Killed in Two Border Raids Following Islamabad Bombing
Pakistani forces say they killed 23 militants in two raids near the Afghan border—12 in the first operation and 11 in a second—following a Nov. 11 suicide bombing in Islamabad. The military described the dead as "khawarij," a term it uses for banned militant groups including the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). Pakistani leaders have accused India and pointed to Afghan links, which both countries deny. Analysts warn the TTP has stepped up attacks since 2021, with incidents rising to 856 in 2024 from 645 in 2023.
07:53 PM, 11/20/2025Security
Pakistani security forces say they killed 23 militants in two targeted raids near the Afghan border, part of a wider campaign following a suicide bombing in Islamabad on November 11.
The military said a "targeted operation" on Wednesday in Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in an "intense" exchange of gunfire. In its social media statement it described the dead as "khawarij," the label Islamabad uses for banned militant groups including the Tehreek-e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The first raid killed 12 people and a later strike in the same general area killed 11 more. The military reported no casualties among Pakistani forces and said the week's operations have resulted in more than 30 deaths in the province.
Authorities linked the raids to the investigation of the November 11 suicide bombing in Islamabad that left at least 12 people dead and about 30 wounded. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly accused India of involvement, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested links to Afghan-based actors; both New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegations. Pakistan also said it arrested four members of an alleged Afghan cell in connection with the attack.
Afghanistan has condemned what it describes as cross-border strikes that violate its sovereignty. Recent talks between Pakistani and Afghan officials in Istanbul ended without agreement, although both sides have said a fragile ceasefire largely holds along parts of the frontier.
The Pakistan Taliban has grown more confident since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021 and has stepped up attacks aimed at destabilizing the Pakistani state. Research from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies recorded 856 incidents in 2024, up from 645 in 2023, with a notable spike in August.
These operations highlight continuing regional tensions among Islamabad, Kabul and New Delhi and underscore the challenges of securing porous border areas where militant groups operate and cross-border accusations complicate diplomatic efforts.