Pakistan says 21 militants killed in last 72 hours of North Waziristan operations

Pakistani security forces killed 21 militants in 72 hours during intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan, the military said on Saturday.

Troops targeted multiple militant hideouts in and around the Miran Shah area near the Afghan border, as part of the ongoing Azm-e-Istehkam counterterrorism campaign.

What happened in the latest North Waziristan intelligence-based operations?

Security forces conducted a series of operations across North Waziristan over 72 hours, killing 21 militants in exchanges of fire. The military's media wing, ISPR, said weapons and ammunition were also recovered. The latest phase brings the total number of militants killed in the broader ongoing campaign in the area to 48.

Which militant commanders were killed in North Waziristan?

Four alleged militant commanders were among the 21 killed. ISPR identified them as Khalid Raza, also known as Salar, Muftoon, Musa, and Imran, also known as Ayan.

The military said all four were wanted for alleged involvement in attacks on security forces and civilians and were considered key operatives within the local militant network.

What is Pakistan's Azm-e-Istehkam counterterrorism strategy?

Azm-e-Istehkam, meaning Resolve for Stability, is the federal government's current counterterrorism framework guiding ongoing military operations in Pakistan's northwest. The military said clearance operations were continuing in North Waziristan to locate and eliminate any remaining militants. Security forces and law enforcement agencies are both involved in the campaign.

North Waziristan, a former stronghold of militant groups along the Afghan border, has seen a resurgence in attacks in recent years despite multiple military offensives that Islamabad says dismantled organized networks. Pakistan has recorded a sharp rise in militant violence since the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and the Pakistani Taliban in late 2022. Most attacks have been concentrated in the northwestern provinces bordering Afghanistan.