Pakistan military kills nine TTP militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raids

Pakistan’s military said Sunday that its forces killed nine militants in three separate operations in the country’s northwest, calling them members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) backed by India.

The raids were carried out on May 24 and 25 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

The TTP fighters, described by the military as “Indian-sponsored Khwarij,” were targeted in intelligence-based operations in the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Khyber. The term Khwarij, meaning "outcasts," is often used by Pakistan’s military to describe the TTP.

In Dera Ismail Khan, four militants were killed in a firefight after troops acted on intelligence reports, the military said.

A second operation in Tank District led to the deaths of two more fighters, while a third engagement in Bagh area of Khyber District resulted in three additional militants being killed.

“Weapons and ammunition were recovered,” ISPR said, adding that the men had been involved in multiple attacks in the region.

Sanitization operations are continuing to clear the area of any remaining militants, the statement said.

“These operations show our commitment to eliminating Indian-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan,” it added.

The military raids came a month after a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. That incident sparked a brief military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors, resulting in over 70 deaths from missile, drone, and artillery fire. A ceasefire was announced on May 10.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the armed forces for their action, calling it a “welcomed success” in the country’s fight against terrorism. He said operations would continue until the threat is completely neutralized.

“Our resolve to eliminate extremist elements and defend the nation remains unshaken,” Zardari said in a statement.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also lauded the forces for what he called a “timely and professional” operation.

“The sons of the soil who brought these Indian-sponsored militants to justice deserve our salute,” Naqvi said.

The TTP, a banned group operating from hideouts along the Afghan border, has been responsible for hundreds of attacks in Pakistan over the last two decades. Pakistan has long accused India of funding and supporting the group, a charge New Delhi denies.