Pakistan Says 30 Militants Killed in Counterterror Operations Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan Says 30 Militants Killed in Counterterror Operations Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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Pakistan’s security forces killed 30 militants in a series of counterterrorism operations across the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military announced on Thursday, Arab News reported. The operations, conducted between Nov. 18 and 19, targeted fighters linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Mohmand, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Kurram districts, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The military said seven militants were killed on Nov. 18 in multiple engagements, while 23 more were killed the following day in Kurram district. According to the ISPR, 12 TTP members died in an initial exchange of fire, with another 11 killed shortly afterward following intelligence about the presence of additional militants in the area.

Security forces also reported killing four militants in Mohmand district, two in Lakki Marwat and one in Tank. Officials said follow-up “sanitization operations” were underway to ensure no remaining fighters are present in the targeted regions.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the TTP of using Afghan territory to plan cross-border attacks, a claim the Afghan Taliban administration denies. Rising violence has strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, especially as Pakistan urges Afghanistan to prevent militant safe havens along the border.

The operations form part of Pakistan’s broader Azm-e-Istehkam campaign launched earlier this year, which aims to intensify intelligence-led action against militant groups. Officials say attacks have sharply increased since 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a 2022 truce between the TTP and the government collapsed.