Pakistani security forces have carried out multiple raids on militant hideouts in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, resulting in the killing of 37 insurgents over more than a week, as reported by the military on Friday. Additionally, troops have also eliminated five insurgents in another region in the country’s restive southwest.
The military has heightened its operations against Islamic militants and a small separatist group following attacks in the Balochistan province where more than 50 people were killed in assaults on police, security forces, and civilians.
A statement by the military indicated that twelve militants were killed overnight in Tirah Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, bringing the total number of insurgents eliminated there to 37 since August 20.
In a separate statement, the military mentioned that security forces conducted three operations resulting in the deaths of five insurgents believed to be involved in recent deadly attacks in Balochistan.
The Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, addressed the Senate, suggesting that the recent attacks in Balochistan were intended to disrupt the upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, scheduled to be hosted by Islamabad in October. However, Naqvi did not provide any evidence to support his assertion.
Recent violent incidents in Balochistan have been attributed to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army, as the province remains a hotspot of insurgency, with various separatist groups carrying out attacks, predominantly targeting security forces, as they advocate for independence from the central government.
