Pakistan says 33 ‘Indian-backed’ militants killed near Afghan border

Pakistani security forces killed 33 militants attempting to cross into southwestern Balochistan province from Afghanistan overnight, the military said on Friday, describing the militants as members of an “Indian-sponsored” group.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Aug. 8 near Sambaza in Balochistan’s Zhob District. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, the militants were members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it refers to as “Fitna al Khwarij.”

“The movement of a large group of militants was detected by security forces,” ISPR said. “Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. As a result of precise, bold and skillful engagement, 33 Indian-sponsored militants were killed.”

The statement added that a large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered after the clash. A sanitization operation is underway to eliminate any remaining fighters in the area.

Pakistan and India, both nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of conflict, frequently accuse each other of backing insurgents. India denies any involvement in supporting militancy inside Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for their action.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, he said the operation had successfully neutralized the threat posed by TTP militants attempting to enter Pakistan.

“The security personnel risked their lives to foil the infiltration and crushed the terrorists’ nefarious ambitions,” he said. “The entire nation stands with its security forces in the war against terrorism.”

PM Shehbaz reiterated his government’s determination to completely eradicate terrorism from Pakistan.

The attack comes amid a wider security crackdown in Balochistan, where separatist militants have intensified their campaign against the state in recent months. These groups have demanded a greater share of profits from the mineral-rich province’s natural resources.

In response to the surge in violence, the government recently suspended mobile data services across Balochistan for three weeks in a bid to disrupt communication among insurgents. Officials say the move is part of a broader intelligence-based operation to eliminate armed groups.

The region, home to the China-funded Gwadar Port, is a strategic part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Islamabad has long accused India of sponsoring violence in Balochistan to sabotage Chinese investments and stoke instability — a charge New Delhi strongly denies.

In March, separatist militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out one of the deadliest attacks in years, blowing up a railway track and taking over 400 passengers hostage. Thirty-one people, including 23 soldiers, were killed in that incident.

Friday’s clash marks one of the largest reported militant fatalities in a single engagement in recent months.