By Pakistani security forces have reported the killing of 37 insurgents in a series of coordinated raids over the past week targeting militant hideouts in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban. The announcement came from the military on Friday, highlighting the intensified efforts to address the growing threat of insurgency in the region.
The recent military operations also resulted in the death of five additional insurgents in Pakistan’s volatile southwest, bringing the total number of insurgents killed in recent weeks to 42. This surge in military activity is a direct response to a series of attacks by insurgents in Balochistan province, where more than 50 people were killed in multiple assaults on police, security forces, and civilians.
According to the military’s statement, significant progress was made during overnight operations in the Tirah Valley, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. A dozen militants were reported killed in this area, raising the number of insurgents eliminated there to 37 since August 20.
In a separate series of operations, security forces targeted insurgents believed to be involved in the recent Balochistan attacks, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. This move underscores the ongoing efforts to curb militant activities and restore stability in the region.
The timing of these developments coincides with remarks made by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who addressed the Senate on the recent attacks in Balochistan. Naqvi suggested that the attacks were orchestrated to undermine the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which Pakistan is scheduled to host in October. However, Naqvi did not provide concrete evidence to support this claim, leaving room for further scrutiny of the motivations behind the insurgent actions.
The intensification of military operations and the focus on key militant strongholds reflect Pakistan’s broader strategy to combat both Islamic militants and separatist groups, aiming to prevent further violence and restore order in affected regions.
