ISLAMABAD, July 4, 2025 (AFP) - Pakistan’s army said Friday it had killed 30 militants attempting to cross the border from Afghanistan over the last three days, after 16 soldiers died in a suicide attack in the same frontier region last week.

The militants belonged to the Pakistan Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement accusing archfoe India of backing them.

“The security forces demonstrated exceptional professionalism, vigilance preparedness, and prevented a potential catastrophe,” it said.

“A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered,” the statement added.

The killings took place in the border district of North Waziristan, where last week 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide attack claimed by a faction of the Pakistan Taliban.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the security forces for “thwarting an infiltration attempt.”

“We are determined to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country,” his office said in a statement Friday.

The prime minister’s statement also accused India of fomenting militancy in Pakistan.

The nuclear-armed neighbors regularly trade accusations that the other supports militant groups operating in their territory.