11 Pakistani Security Personnel, Including Officers, Killed in Northwest Clash

11 Pakistani Security Personnel, Including Officers, Killed in Northwest Clash
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At least 11 Pakistani security personnel, including two military officers, were killed during a clash with militants in the country’s northwest, Anadolu Agency reported.

The casualties occurred during an intelligence-based operation conducted late Tuesday in the Orakzai district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The military’s media wing reported that during the intense exchange of fire, 19 militants were killed by the troops.

Among the security personnel who “paid the ultimate sacrifice” were Lt. Col. Junaid Arif (39) and Major Tayyab Rahat (33), along with nine other soldiers.

Pakistan witnessed a sharp rise in violence in the third quarter of 2025, with at least 901 deaths and 599 injuries across 329 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, according to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The data reflects a 46% surge compared to the previous quarter, putting 2025 on track to surpass last year’s total of 2,546 fatalities, as this year the country has recorded 2,414 fatalities so far.

The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan accounted for nearly 96% of the total violence, with the former emerging as the worst-hit region, recording nearly 71% or 638 of all violence-related fatalities and over 67% or 221 of the incidents.

Balochistan followed with 25% or 230 of the fatalities and 85 incidents during the same period.