• Pakistani military claims to have killed 30 militants in North Waziristan.
• The operation was conducted following a deadly suicide attack killing 16 soldiers.
• The militants were labeled as "Indian-sponsored" by the military.
• Calls for Afghan authorities to prevent cross-border infiltration have been made.
• Heightened tensions in the region link back to the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's military reported on Friday that it killed 30 suspected militants attempting to cross the border from Afghanistan, in an operation that took place in the Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan. This operation comes shortly after a suicide attack last week that resulted in the deaths of 16 Pakistani soldiers, an escalation in violence linked to militant groups in the region, including the Pakistan Taliban and its affiliates, according to Indiatimes, Dawn, TRT World, Al Jazeera, and Anadolu Agency.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan asserted that the operation was a demonstration of "exceptional professionalism" by the security forces, effectively countering the infiltration attempt. Furthermore, a substantial amount of weapons and explosives was seized from the location, which was described as a critical engagement in the fight against terrorism in the region, as reported by Dawn and TRT World.

In its statements, the Pakistani military criticized the Taliban-led Afghan government, urging it to take preventive measures against foreign proxies conducting terrorist operations that target Pakistan. This call for action reflects the ongoing tensions in the region, exacerbated since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, with a significant increase in violence reported in border areas, according to Anadolu Agency and Al Jazeera.