ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces lost three soldiers in clashes with militants at three different places in Tirah Valley, located in the northwestern Khyber district, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Friday, adding that four militants were also killed.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant activities since the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, unilaterally called off a fragile ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Much of TTP’s militant activity has been confined to the country’s western provinces, prompting security officials to launch intelligence-based operations against its fighters who are reportedly being armed with sophisticated military equipment, including night vision devices.
Tirah Valley, where the recent clashes occurred, has a history of militancy due to its rugged terrain and proximity to the Afghanistan border.
“On 9 August 2024, fire exchange took place between Security Forces and the Khwarij [militants] at three different locations in Tirah Valley of Khyber District,” the ISPR said, adding that four of these militants were killed due to effective engagement of troops.
“However, during the intense fire exchange, three brave sons of soil, Havildar Inam Gul (age: 37 years, resident of District Mianwali), Sepoy Muhammad Imran (age: 29 years, resident of District Tank) and Sepoy Iltaf Khan (age: 22 years, resident of District Mardan), having fought gallantly embraced Shahadat [martyrdom],” it continued.
The ISPR also mentioned “sanitization operation” in the area to eliminate other militants.
It added that Pakistani security forces were determined to eliminate extremist violence from the country.
Three soldiers, four militants killed in fire exchange in northwestern Pakistan
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Three soldiers, four militants killed in fire exchange in northwestern Pakistan
- The clashes between the two sides took place at three different locations in Tirah Valley
- The area has a history of militancy due to its rugged terrain, proximity to Afghanistan
Portugal arrests dozens over hate crimes targeting Pakistanis among Muslim immigrants
- Portugal’s foreign-born population has boosted to around 15 percent of the total in recent years
- At the same time, the far right has been gaining in popularity with anti-immigrant messaging
LISBON: Portuguese police said on Tuesday they had detained dozens of suspected members of a group that spread neo-Nazi propaganda and committed hate crimes against immigrants.
The 37 suspects had “extensive criminal records and links to international groups that promote hate,” the judicial police said in a statement, adding that 15 people had been formally charged.
The victims were mostly immigrants from Muslim-majority countries in South Asia, according to local media.
The arrival of workers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, has boosted Portugal’s foreign-born population in recent years to around 15 percent of the total.
At the same time, the far right has been gaining in popularity with anti-immigrant messaging.
The authorities said the suspects founded a hierarchical criminal organization to promote racial hatred and violence.
Those arrested are due in court on Wednesday, suspected of spreading “neo-Nazi ideas... to intimidate and persecute ethnic minorities, particularly immigrants.”
