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
Saudi Arabia preparing for strategic economic pact with Pakistan, Saudi envoy says
- The statement follows the signing of a bilateral defense agreement in Sept. to enhance joint deterrence
- Both nations also agreed on an economic framework to prioritize energy, industry, mining and other projects
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia is preparing to sign a strategic economic pact with Pakistan to further strengthen ties between the two brotherly nations, the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan said on Tuesday, months after both countries signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA).
The statement by Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki came during his interaction with Arab News on the sidelines of the launch of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) Ramadan food assistance program for deserving Pakistanis.
It followed a landmark defense pact between the two countries, signed in Sept. last year, under which Islamabad and Riyadh pledged that aggression against one would be treated as an attack on both.
The move was widely viewed as formalization of longstanding military cooperation into a binding commitment, while both countries agreed a month later to launch an economic cooperation framework to strengthen trade and investment ties.
“Three months ago, we signed, you know, the Strategic Mutual Defense agreement. Today, god willing, we will be preparing for another, you know, strategic plan for the economy of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” the Saudi ambassador told Arab News, adding the economic plan would be signed “soon.”
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed to launch the economic cooperation framework to strengthen trade and investment ties during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh in Oct. last year.
A joint statement issued after Sharif’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed said the framework would include several strategic, high-impact projects, prioritizing energy, industry, mining, information technology, tourism, agriculture and food security.
“This framework represents an extension of both countries’ efforts to strengthen their fraternal relations and reaffirms their shared vision toward building a sustainable partnership across various economic, trade and investment fields,” the joint statement said in Oct.
The two countries have already signed a memorandum of understanding for an electricity interconnection project.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have enjoyed close relations for decades but have moved to broaden their cooperation in recent years. In 2024, the two countries had also signed 34 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $2.8 billion across multiple sectors.
The KSrelief Ramadan food assistance program, launched on Tuesday, aimed to distribute 27,000 food baskets to support 192,500 vulnerable individuals in 30 districts across Pakistan.
Each food package includes 80 kilograms of wheat flour, 5 liters of cooking oil, 5 kilograms of sugar, 2 kilograms of dates, and 5 kilograms of gram pulse, according to the charity. The contents are calculated to sustain an average household for the entire month of Ramadan.
“The project reflects the Center’s broader humanitarian mandate to alleviate suffering, enhance resilience, and support vulnerable communities,” the Saudi charity said.
“KSrelief reaffirms its continued commitment to addressing food security challenges in Pakistan.”
