In a significant operation against insurgents, Pakistani security forces conducted a raid on a militant stronghold near the Afghan border in the often turbulent northwest region, eliminating nine militants, the military announced on Monday.
This decisive action took place in Dera Ismail Khan, a city within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and included the successful targeting of a high-profile militant identified as Shireen.
According to the military’s statement, Shireen was implicated in the death of army Captain Hasnain Akhtar, who was killed last month during a confrontation in the area.
All eliminated combatants were described by the military as belonging to the “Khwarij,” a term used by the government to refer to the Pakistani Taliban.
Formally known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), this group operates in alliance with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Their activities have intensified following the Taliban’s ascendancy to power in Afghanistan in 2021, resulting in a heightened wave of militant attacks within Pakistan, with many attributed to the TTP.
Pakistan frequently voices concerns regarding Kabul’s efforts to curb insurgent activities along the border, an accusation that the current Taliban-led Afghan government denies.
They assert that they do not permit cross-border attacks from Afghan soil.
Addressing these concerns, Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, urged Kabul to restrain the TTP from initiating attacks inside Pakistan.
He emphasized the necessity for Afghanistan to collaborate with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, warning that failure to act might dissolve existing agreements.
Sadiq’s comments were part of his remarks during a televised seminar held in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, highlighting the pressing need for cooperative efforts in addressing cross-border terrorism.
Despite ongoing operations to tackle militancy, the latest successful raid in Dera Ismail Khan follows another operation that resulted in the death of eight militants in the North Waziristan district.
These insurgents were intercepted attempting to cross into Afghanistan, further underscoring Pakistan’s resolve in tackling threats along its borders.