Five terrorists belonging to banned Fitna Al Khawarij were killed on the night of January 18-19 while trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the general area of Sambaza, Zhob district, the military’s media wing said.

“Pakistan has consistently been asking interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Sunday.

Security forces thwarted their attempt to infiltrate, it said and added that the interim Afghan government was expected to fulfil its obligations and “deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”

The statement said: “Security forces of Pakistan remain committed to secure its borders & eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.”

Earlier this week, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir stated that the main issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan stem from the presence of the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan and ongoing cross-border attacks.

In a meeting in Peshawar with politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he emphasised such points of contention, which have contributed to strained relations between the two countries.

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Frequent border skirmishes have further exacerbated tensions, with Islamabad repeatedly urging Kabul to take decisive action against the group known as Fitna Al Khawarij, which Pakistan claims is using Afghan territory to launch attacks. But the Afghan government has consistently rejected these allegations.

Pakistan has requested a “friendly country” to talk to the interim Afghan government, Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has quoted COAS General Munir as saying during a meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leaders earlier this week.

“The army chief also said that we have requested our friendly country to talk to the interim government of Afghanistan,” he said while appearing on Rubaroo which was aired on Aaj News on Saturday.