Pakistan’s military announced Friday that it had killed 30 armed fighters trying to infiltrate from Afghanistan into the North Waziristan region, intensifying border tensions and renewing allegations of foreign involvement.

Cross-Border Clash in North Waziristan

In a statement, the Pakistani army said the infiltrators were intercepted and neutralized during an attempted border breach. The army reported recovering a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. The incident follows a deadly suicide attack in the same region the previous week, which killed 16 soldiers and was claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

Islamabad Points Finger at India

The military accused India of backing the infiltrators, alleging they were linked to Indian intelligence. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the army’s response and said Pakistan remains “determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism.” He also accused New Delhi of fueling regional instability.

Pakistan and India, both nuclear powers, frequently trade accusations of harboring and supporting militants hostile to each other. The cross-border violence adds new strain to already tense relations.

Heightened Security Nationwide

In anticipation of further violence, security has been ramped up across various parts of Pakistan. Officials have expressed concern over the potential for sectarian unrest and additional attacks.

The situation underscores Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with militancy in its tribal belt and highlights the fragile security environment along the porous Afghan frontier, particularly as Pakistan continues to face spillover effects from the evolving situation in Afghanistan.