Pakistani security forces kill 10 militants in two separate operations in northwest

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces killed 10 militants and injured three more in two separate operations in the country’s North Waziristan district, said an official statement by the military’s media wing, ISPR, on Saturday.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in militant violence in its western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces that share their border with the neighboring state of Afghanistan.
The surge in militant activities, including deadly suicide bombings, followed after Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a conglomerate of armed factions, called off a fragile ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Pakistani security forces have carried out several IBOs in recent months to deal with militants hiding in the remote areas of the two provinces.
The ISPR said eight militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation and the ensuing “sanitization” activity.
“In a separate operation in North Waziristan District,” it continued, “movement of five terrorists, who were trying to infiltrate Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces.”
After an intense fire exchange, the ISPR added, two militants were killed while three others were injured.
“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side,” the statement said. “Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”