Military kills 24 militants in intelligence-based operations in northwest Pakistan

Pakistan’s security forces killed 24 militants belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during two intelligence-based operations in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Friday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, said the operations were conducted on Feb. 4 and 5 in Orakzai and Khyber districts.

According to ISPR, the first operation took place in Orakzai District after reports of the presence of militants. Security forces engaged a hideout and killed 14 militants following an exchange of fire.

A separate intelligence-based operation was carried out in Khyber District, where security forces engaged another group of militants. Ten were killed during the ensuing exchange of fire, ISPR said.

ISPR described the militants as belonging to Fitna Al Khwarij, the term used by the military for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

The military said sanitization operations were ongoing in both areas to eliminate any remaining militants.

ISPR said the counterterrorism campaign would continue under “Azm-e-Istehkam,” a framework approved by the Federal Apex Committee under Pakistan’s National Action Plan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in northwest Pakistan that borders Afghanistan.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government of failing to act against members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a separate militant group that Islamabad says operates from Afghan territory. Kabul rejects the allegation and maintains that Pakistan must manage its own security challenges.

The TTP has carried out some of the most lethal attacks against Pakistani police and soldiers since 2007 as part of its campaign to impose a strict form of Islamic law in the country.

A rise in militant attacks in recent months has strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Both countries exchanged heavy fire during deadly border clashes in October last year that killed dozens, including soldiers, before a temporary ceasefire was reached in Doha.