2025 North Waziristan border clashes

North Waziristan has long been a hotspot for militant activity, particularly involving the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).{{Cite web |date=27 April 2025 |title=54 terrorists killed as infiltration bid foiled on Pak-Afghan border: ISPR |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/27-Apr-2025/54-terrorists-killed-as-infiltration-bid-foiled-on-pak-afghan-border-ispr |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Daily Pakistan English News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-27 |title=Pakistan: Investigate North Waziristan killings |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/05/pakistan-investigate-north-waziristan-killings/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Amnesty International |language=en |archive-date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217040321/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/05/pakistan-investigate-north-waziristan-killings/ |url-status=live }} Following the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan has experienced a surge in cross-border attacks, with many TTP fighters allegedly finding sanctuary across the border.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2025 |title=Pakistan troops kill 54 militants crossing Afghanistan border: army |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3308120/pakistan-troops-kill-54-militants-crossing-afghanistan-border-army-says |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427234759/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3308120/pakistan-troops-kill-54-militants-crossing-afghanistan-border-army-says |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Media seminar in N Waziristan marks a new beginning |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1304277-media-seminar-in-n-waziristan-marks-a-new-beginning |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=The News International |language=en}}

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistani security forces detected a large group of militants attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Security forces engaged the infiltrators, resulting in the deaths of 54 militants.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2025 |title=Pakistani troops kill 54 Afghan militants trying to cross the border |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20250427-pakistani-troops-kill-54-afghan-militants-trying-to-cross-the-border |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428015649/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20250427-pakistani-troops-kill-54-afghan-militants-trying-to-cross-the-border |url-status=live }} The military described the attackers as "Khwarij," a term used for extremists associated with the Pakistani Taliban, and stated that the militants were allegedly planning high-profile attacks within Pakistan.{{Cite web |title=Pak Army Says Killed 54 Militants Trying To Cross Border From Afghanistan |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pakistan-army-says-killed-54-militants-trying-to-cross-border-from-afghanistan-8271078 |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=NDTV |language=en}}

The following night, on 28 April, an additional 17 militants were killed in an overnight operation in North Waziristan, bringing the total number of insurgents killed in the region over three days to 71.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 April 2025 |title=17 more terrorists 'backed by Indian masters' killed at Pak-Afghan border: ISPR |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2542786/17-more-terrorists-backed-by-indian-masters-killed-at-pak-afghan-border-i |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428155508/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2542786/17-more-terrorists-backed-by-indian-masters-killed-at-pak-afghan-border-i |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=28 April 2025 |title=Bombing in a former stronghold of Pakistani Taliban kills 7 people and wounds 16 |url=https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-bombing-peace-committee-office-restive-northwest-a8ebb5f3685057b1b1d06bab47d7e72f |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428182615/https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-bombing-peace-committee-office-restive-northwest-a8ebb5f3685057b1b1d06bab47d7e72f |url-status=live }}

Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's Interior Minister, praised the operation as a major success in preempting terrorist attacks. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for their efforts.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2025 |title=Pakistan army says 54 militants killed attempting to enter from Afghanistan |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2598639/pakistan |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Arab News |language=en}}

{{also|2025 Pahalgam attack}}

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Yashraj |title='Burst balloon': How Pahalgam attack shattered Modi's Kashmir narrative |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/28/burst-balloon-how-pahalgam-attack-shattered-modis-kashmir-narrative |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Al Jazeera Media Network |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428044752/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/28/burst-balloon-how-pahalgam-attack-shattered-modis-kashmir-narrative |url-status=live }} India had recently accused Pakistan of involvement in a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, an allegation Pakistan has denied. The Pakistani military suggested that the infiltration attempt was timed to coincide with such accusations.{{Cite web |title=Pakistani forces kill 54 militants trying to cross Afghan border: Army - IRNA English |url=https://en.irna.ir/news/85815858/Pakistani-forces-kill-54-militants-trying-to-cross-Afghan-border/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=en.irna.ir |archive-date=29 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429033334/https://en.irna.ir/amp/85815858/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Bukhari |first1=Fayaz |last2=Patel |first2=Shivam |title=India, Pakistan exchange small arms fire, China urges restraint |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/india-pakistan-exchange-small-arms-fire-across-kashmir-border-fourth-night-2025-04-28/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |publisher=Reuters |date=28 April 2025 |language=en |archive-date=29 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429034408/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/india-pakistan-exchange-small-arms-fire-across-kashmir-border-fourth-night-2025-04-28/ |url-status=live }}

On 28 April 2025, a bombing outside a pro-government peace committee office in Wana, South Waziristan, resulted in at least seven deaths and sixteen injuries.{{Cite news |date=27 April 2025 |title=Pakistani troops kill 54 militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistani-troops-kill-54-militants-attempting-to-infiltrate-from-afghanistan-101745760324393.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428035539/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistani-troops-kill-54-militants-attempting-to-infiltrate-from-afghanistan-101745760324393.html |archive-date=28 April 2025 |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }} No group immediately claimed responsibility, but officials suspected the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=Pakistan army says 71 militants killed in three days of operations in northwest |url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2598748/pakistan |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Arab News PK |language=en}}

• 2025 in Pakistan
• Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2025

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Category:2025 in Pakistan

Category:Conflicts in 2025

Category:Military operations involving Pakistan

Category:North Waziristan District

Category:Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan attacks

Category:Battles in 2025