ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed three militants and lost one soldier in separate incidents in Pakistan’s northwestern region bordering Afghanistan, which has witnessed an uptick in extremist violence in recent months, said the army’s media wing, ISPR, in a statement on Tuesday.
The Pakistani forces launched an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area of Kulachi in Dera Ismail Khan district on Monday where two militants were killed after an intense exchange of fire.
A separate operation was also carried out in South Waziristan’s Kot Azam area where another militant was killed.
“Weapons and ammunition were recovered from all three killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians,” the ISPR said.
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old soldier, Sepoy Shahzeb, lost his life in North Waziristan tribal district after an improvised explosive device went off.
“Sanitization operations are being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan’s top officials have frequently blamed militant networks hiding in Afghanistan for launching cross-border attacks against its security personnel and civilian population.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar expressed his disappointment with the Taliban administration in Kabul earlier this month for not clamping down on militants operating from Afghan territory and even accused it of facilitating some of these attacks.
Kakar also said that militant violence had increased in Pakistan by 60 percent and suicide bombings had shot up by 500 percent since the formation of the interim Afghan administration two years ago.
Pakistan has started deporting unregistered Afghans and other foreign nationals, following accusations of their involvement in suicide bombings and combat against Pakistan’s counterterrorism forces.
