ISPR: Security Forces Kill 22 Indian-Sponsored Terrorists in Khyber
Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations announced on Friday that security forces had killed 22 terrorists in an operation in Khyber district, designating the militants as Indian-sponsored. The military's media wing stated the operation was conducted following confirmed intelligence about the presence of a terrorist group in the area.
ISPR's characterisation of the killed militants as Indian-sponsored carries significant diplomatic weight, coming at a time of already-elevated Pakistan-India tensions. The claim represents a direct accusation against New Delhi of actively supporting armed groups operating on Pakistani territory, a charge India has consistently and categorically denied.
The Khyber district has historically been a zone of intense counter-terrorism activity, bordering Afghanistan and falling within the broader security belt that Pakistani forces have been working to stabilise under successive military operations. Operations in the region involve both the army and paramilitary forces operating against multiple militant networks.
The announcement is likely to further inflame the Pakistan-India relationship, which has been under severe strain following a series of incidents along the Line of Control and broader geopolitical realignment in the region. Security analysts will be scrutinising ISPR's evidence base for the Indian-sponsorship claim as it has immediate implications for bilateral diplomacy and potential escalation.
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