Pakistani security forces have killed 74 militants during a series of raids on hideouts across the country's northwest and southwestern regions over the past 10 days. The military confirmed the operations on Friday, noting that the actions took place in areas bordering Afghanistan.
In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, specifically within the Mir Ali and Orakzai districts, troops killed 43 militants. During these engagements, security forces seized various weapons, ammunition, and explosive devices. Separately, in Balochistan province—a region currently experiencing a bloody insurgency led by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army—troops killed 31 militants in multiple operations conducted since Nov. 3.
The military has characterized the militants as "Khawarij," a term the government utilizes to describe fighters it claims are backed by Afghanistan, including those associated with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad alleges these groups receive support from both Afghanistan and India, though officials in Kabul and New Delhi have previously denied these accusations. Many TTP leaders and fighters are believed to operate from sanctuaries across the Afghan border, a situation that has consistently strained diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul. The Pakistani Taliban remain a separate group from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Following the operations, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued statements praising the security forces. Both leaders vowed that the government would continue its fight against militancy.
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