In a series of ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Pakistan, security forces have neutralized 12 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). These operations, initiated on August 20, 2024, are targeting militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates, referred to as “Fitna-Al-Khwarij” by the military. As of now, a total of 37 terrorists have been killed and 14 others injured in these operations, delivering a significant blow to the militant group.
The ISPR emphasized the military’s commitment to restoring peace in the region, stating that the operations will continue until the area is fully secured and terrorism is eradicated. These efforts are part of a broader campaign to eliminate the threat of terrorism across the country, especially in areas that have been destabilized by militant activities.
In a parallel development, security forces also conducted IBOs in Balochistan’s Kech, Panjgur, and Zhob districts, resulting in the deaths of five terrorists and the injury of three others. These operations were launched in response to a series of terrorist attacks that targeted civilians in Balochistan on August 26. The military’s media wing reported that these operations are part of an extensive effort to track down the perpetrators of these attacks and bring them to justice.
The violence in Balochistan has escalated in recent weeks, with a particularly brutal incident on August 26 where 23 passengers were killed after being forcibly removed from buses and trucks in the Rarasham area of Musakhel. Additionally, 10 security personnel, including members of the police and Balochistan Levies, were martyred in a gun attack in Kalat.
Pakistan has seen a resurgence in militant attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan, which border Afghanistan and Iran, have been particularly affected. Last year, Balochistan experienced 170 militant attacks, resulting in the deaths of 151 civilians and 114 security personnel, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
The Pakistani government has accused Afghanistan’s new rulers of failing to eliminate militants who use Afghan territory as a base for attacks on Pakistan. In response to the growing threat, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in June 2024, a renewed national counter-terrorism campaign aimed at implementing the Central Apex Committee’s recommendations under the National Action Plan. This operation is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to root out terrorism and stabilize the region.
