Pakistani army has killed 74 armed fighters during a series of raids conducted across areas along the country’s border with Afghanistan, according to military reports.
In the south-western province of Balochistan, security forces killed 31 alleged terrorists during operations launched since 3 November, recovering a range of weapons, explosives, and ammunition, the military news division announced in a social media update on Friday.
Balochistan has long experienced an armed rebellion waged by Balochistan Liberation Army, an organisation seeking regional independence from Pakistan, reports Al Jazeera.
A further 43 fighters were killed in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 35 were slain during raids over the preceding two days in Mir Ali and eight others died in Orakzai, with military personnel recovering additional arms.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa serves as a base for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, known as the TTP, alongside several other armed groups.
The armed forces designated the fighters as “Khawarij,” a term used by the military to refer to insurgent factions it maintains are supported by Afghanistan, including the TTP.
Although operating as a separate entity, the TTP is allied with the Afghan Taliban, which assumed power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Pakistani authorities believe that the group operates from sanctuaries on the Afghan side of the border and is responsible for an escalation in attacks on Pakistani territory in recent years.
This situation has strained diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul, leading to armed confrontations that have caused civilian deaths.
Islamabad accuses India and Afghanistan of backing the armed groups, though officials in both Delhi and Kabul deny any involvement.
Meanwhile, violent incidents persist in the region, with alleged TTP fighters ambushing a convoy in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, killing at least 11 policemen and wounding 12 others, authorities said.
Commending the military operations, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in a statement, “The security forces’ continued successes in the war against terrorism reflect national resolve and professional capabilities.”
Zardari added, “Operations must continue against externally sponsored terrorist elements seeking to undermine Pakistan’s security.”
