Two Afghan nationals among 8 militants Killed in North Waziristan IBO

RAWALPINDI: Security forces have identified eight militants killed during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel area on April 1, with officials confirming that two of the deceased were Afghan nationals, security sources said on Saturday.

According to sources, the identified individuals include Amir Hamza Haqyar, son of Abdul Karim, and Amir Abdul Rahim, son of Zaroli and a resident of Paktia, Afghanistan.

The operation is part of Pakistan’s broader counterterrorism campaign, Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched in response to escalating cross-border militant activity. The phrase, meaning “Wrath for the Truth,” reflects what officials describe as a decisive response to threats against national security.

Defence analysts say the presence of Afghan nationals among the militants raises serious questions about the assurances of the Afghan Taliban regarding its stance on militancy.

“The incident exposes the gap between claims and ground realities,” one expert noted, alleging that peace overtures have been used to secure economic and diplomatic concessions while militant networks continue to operate.

Another analyst argued that expectations of meaningful change in the Taliban’s approach remain misplaced, asserting that “there has been no shift in their underlying mindset.”

Experts have also called for intensifying ongoing counterterrorism operations, emphasising that sustained military pressure is necessary to curb cross-border threats.

The development comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where security forces have stepped up operations in recent months to dismantle militant networks and prevent infiltration.

Officials maintain that such actions are essential to safeguarding national security and ensuring stability in the region, even as diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Kabul continues on parallel tracks.