12 killed as security forces thwart infiltration attempt in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed 12 terrorists and Afghan Taliban personnel while foiling an infiltration attempt from Afghanistan in Kurram district of the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said Sunday.

The movement of a group of terrorists approaching the international border was detected on Saturday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military.

Afghan Taliban posts opened fire to support the infiltrators, prompting an exchange of fire with Pakistani troops, during which 12 terrorists and Taliban fighters were killed.

The military accused the Afghan government of failing to prevent Afghan territory from being used for cross-border terrorism. A sanitization operation is underway to clear the area of remaining suspects, it added.

Pakistan's counter-terrorism campaign will continue, the statement said.