ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight militants while six others sustained injuries during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted in the Miran Shah area of North Waziristan district.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed several attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who have targeted security forces’ convoys and check posts, besides killing and kidnapping officials and civilians in recent months.
“Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area Miran Shah, North Waziristan District on the reported presence of khwarij [militants],” the ISPR said.
“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij’s location, as a result of which, eight khwarij were sent to hell, while six khwarij got injured.”
A “sanitization operation” was also conducted in the area to eliminate any other militants, it added.
Earlier this month on Nov. 10, Pakistani security forces killed four militants in two separate encounters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prior to that, four Pakistani soldiers and five militants lost their lives in a gunbattle in South Waziristan’s Karama area.
The TTP leadership is said to be based in neighboring Afghanistan, affecting the ties between Kabul and Islamabad since the Pakistani officials have accused the Afghan Taliban of “facilitating” cross-border militant attacks.
Afghanistan denies the allegation and has urged Pakistan to resolve its security challenges internally.
Pakistani security forces kill eight militants in restive northwest
https://arab.news/gakyb
Pakistani security forces kill eight militants in restive northwest
- Army says six militants also injured during operation in Miran Shah area of North Waziristan
- South Asian nation blames surge in militancy on TTP fighters operating out of Afghanistan
Minister says Pakistan’s Hajj 2026 policy ‘effective,’ in line with Saudi guidelines
- A large portion of the Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators
- While the government fulfilled its full allocation, private operators attributed the shortfall to technical issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has said the government formulated an “effective” Hajj Policy 2026 that is in accordance with guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan approved the Hajj 2026 policy in July, under which the country has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Of which, around 120,000 seats have been allocated for the government scheme and the rest for private tour operators.
The government ensured digitization of Hajj services, electronic monitoring and complaint system, long and short duration Hajj packages, and prioritizing those who could not perform the pilgrimage under the private scheme last year.
Speaking to the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster, Yousaf said that the government is trying to expand the “Route to Makkah” facility to Lahore. The initiative allows pilgrims to complete travel formalities at their departure airports.
“Training for the 2026 Hajj is currently underway across the country, with mandatory sessions being conducted in various districts,” the minister was quoted as saying.
A large portion of the Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.
Private operators had attributed the shortfall to technical issues, including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns.
Pakistan this month also requested Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota in proportion to the country’s population of 240 million, Radio Pakistan reported.
“Pakistan has formally requested the Saudi government to increase its Hajj quota to 230,000, in proportion to the country’s population, to allow more people to undertake the pilgrimage,” Yousaf was quoted as saying.
