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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Tajikistan concluded a joint counterterrorism exercise on Saturday, said the military, with Islamabad expressing satisfaction over having met “all training and military diplomacy objectives.”

The two countries have stepped up security collaboration in recent years to combat militancy and cross-border crime.

Earlier this year in May, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, in Dushanbe to discuss bilateral strategic cooperation and expressed a resolve to strengthen their counterterrorism partnership and jointly work to prevent human smuggling and other organized crime.

“Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Counter Terrorism Exercise Dosti-II was conducted from 4-9 August 2025 at Fakhrobod Base, Tajikistan,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. “Two combat teams from the Light Commando Battalion, Pakistan Army, and four combat teams from Tajikistan Special Forces participated in the exercise. All training and military diplomacy objectives were achieved successfully.”

The exercise concluded with a ceremony attended by Pakistan’s Defense Attaché in Tajikistan as chief guest alongside senior Tajik military officials.

Troops from both sides “displayed the highest standards of professional excellence,” ISPR said.

The statement informed the training focused on refining counterterrorism drills, procedures and techniques through joint operations.

Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy close bilateral ties, underpinned by trade, energy and connectivity projects such as the CASA-1000 electricity transmission line, which will deliver surplus hydropower from Central Asia to Pakistan.

The two countries are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Islamabad views Dushanbe as a gateway to the Central Asian market, while Tajikistan sees Pakistan as its route to the Arabian Sea via ports in Karachi and Gwadar.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed 47 “Indian-sponsored militants” belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) near the country’s border with Afghanistan in the restive Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Saturday.

Pakistani forces engaged and killed 33 militants while attempting to infiltrate the border in Sambaza area of Balochistan’s Zhob district on August 7-8, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

The military, following the successful engagements, conducted a sanitization operation on the night August 8-9 in surrounding areas of Sambaza along Pakistan-Afghanistan border and neutralized 14 more “Indian-sponsored khwarij [militants].”

In recent months, Islamabad has frequently accused India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.

“Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed khwarij,” the ISPR said in a statement. “Security Forces remain committed to secure the nation’s frontiers and thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Pakistan.”

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its western regions bordering Afghanistan.

While the recent infiltration attempt took place in the volatile Balochistan province, the site of a long-running insurgency by Baloch separatists, the TTP has primarily carried out attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, targeting security personnel, police and civilians.

On Friday, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti welcomed the operation, calling it a successful counter-infiltration move that “made the nation proud.”

“The people of Balochistan stand united against the enemies of peace,” he said. “Every obstacle to peace and prosperity in Balochistan will be eliminated.”