Rawalpindi A Pakistani soldier was martyred and at least eight terrorists were killed during a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Monday.
According to the ISPR, a key operation was carried out in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, where security forces engaged militants associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by the state as Fitna Al Khawarij. Three terrorists were killed during the encounter.
In a separate IBO in South Waziristan, security forces neutralised two more terrorists. However, the operation also saw the loss of Naik Mujahid Khan, a 40-year-old soldier from District Kohat, who embraced martyrdom during an intense exchange of fire while fighting gallantly.
Further engagements were reported in Khyber and Bannu districts, where three additional militants were killed. The ISPR confirmed that a cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the killed terrorists. These militants, the military added, were involved in a series of attacks targeting both security forces and innocent civilians.
Following the operations, sanitisation activities are underway to ensure no further threats remain in the affected areas. The ISPR reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remain resolute in their mission to eradicate terrorism, adding that the sacrifices of brave soldiers like Naik Mujahid Khan only strengthen national resolve.
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The operations come at a time of rising militant activity in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), January alone saw a 42% surge in terrorist attacks, with at least 74 incidents nationwide. These attacks resulted in 91 deaths, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants, while 117 others were injured.
Islamabad has repeatedly called on Kabul to prevent Afghan soil from being used as a launching pad for cross-border attacks into Pakistan. The two countries share a 2,500-kilometre porous border, which is a critical conduit for regional trade and cross-border movement. Despite this, the persistent threat of terrorism remains a major concern for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s concerns were echoed in a recent report by the United Nations Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which pointed to a nexus between the Afghan regime and the TTP. The report stated that the TTP continues to receive logistical, operational, and financial support from elements based in Kabul.
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