ISPR: Pakistan security forces kill high-value TTP commander in border operation

On October 30, Pakistan’s military said that a “high-value target” linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was among four militants killed after security forces foiled an infiltration attempt along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the movement of a group of khwarij attempting to cross the border in Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was detected and thwarted by troops, Caliber.Az reports, citing Dawn.

“Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted khwarijs’ attempt to infiltrate. As a result of precise and skilful engagement, four khwarij, including kharji leader, a high-value target kharji Amjad alias Mazahim, were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.

The statement added that the militant leader was the deputy of TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud and head of Rehbari Shura of Fitna al Khwarij, a term used by the state for TTP militants.

He was wanted by law enforcement agencies, with a Rs5 million bounty on him, for “actively involved in perpetuating numerous terrorist activities inside Pakistan while residing in Afghanistan.”

“It is pertinent to highlight that the leadership of Fitna al Khawarij, while residing in Afghanistan, is orchestrating infiltration attempts into Pakistan — primarily to project an impression of domestic presence and to raise the diminishing morale of their khwarij in Bajaur and Mohmand because of effective operations of security forces,” the ISPR said.

The military called on the Afghan government to “take concrete measures to ensure that Afghan soil is not used by kharji proxies to perpetrate terrorism against Pakistan.”

The development comes amid the third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Turkiye, with the TTP as the main point of contention. Talks aim to establish mechanisms to monitor Taliban actions, dismantle TTP sanctuaries, and enforce measurable anti-terror steps.

Earlier, on October 30, 18 militants were killed in two operations in Balochistan targeting groups designated as Indian proxies, Fitna al Hindustan. The ISPR said that an intelligence-based operation in Quetta’s Chiltan mountains killed 14 militants, while a raid in Buleda, Kech district, neutralised four others. Weapons and explosives were recovered.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces, saying the operations “reflect[ed] security forces’ determination to eradicate terrorism,” while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed the nation’s support for the fight against terrorism.

By Aghakazim Guliyev