The volatile situation in Pakistan, marked by the ongoing tensions between the army and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has escalated. In two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a northwestern province, the army engaged in clashes with the proscribed TTP, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 soldiers and 35 terrorists. The military confirmed these details on Saturday, September 13th.
The Pakistan Army reported that the operations, spanning the past four days, led to the loss of at least 12 soldiers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Simultaneously, the army claimed to have neutralized 35 terrorists associated with the TTP.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media arm, provided details on Saturday. The operations occurred in the Bajaur and South Waziristan districts. In Bajaur, an intelligence-driven operation sparked an encounter between security forces and terrorists, resulting in the deaths of 22 TTP terrorists. South Waziristan witnessed another operation where 13 terrorists were killed, alongside the tragic loss of 12 Pakistani soldiers.
The ISPR also confirmed the recovery of weapons and ammunition from the terrorists. Furthermore, the ISPR alleged the involvement of Afghan nationals in these terrorist incidents and expressed the expectation that the Taliban government in Afghanistan would prevent its territory from being used for anti-Pakistan terrorist activities.
Additional search operations are underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the region. Following the TTP’s termination of the ceasefire with the government in November 2022 and subsequent pledge to amplify attacks, there has been a surge in terrorism within Pakistan. The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021 has exacerbated terrorist activities in the bordering areas. During the current year, attacks by armed groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have claimed the lives of 460 individuals, with a majority being security forces personnel.