Pakistan shells militant hideouts in the northwest

Pakistan’s security forces shelled militant hideouts on Friday in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province’s Bajaur district near the Afghanistan border.

The attack is said to have been triggered after a video showing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hoisting their flag at a post went viral.

The strikes targeted hideouts in the mountainous Salarzai and Mamond tehsils, according to Bajaur's Police Control Room. “The operation focused on areas including Malased, Banda, and Khaza,” officials confirmed to Nukta.

Video sparks action

In the video, TTP militants are seen hoisting their flags and claiming control of a security checkpost. District Police Officer Waqas Rafiq clarified that security forces had vacated the post, but the militants' presence prompted immediate action.

“There have been no civilian casualties, but there are unconfirmed reports of some terrorists being killed,” Rafiq told Nukta. He dismissed the militants’ claim as a stunt to influence public perception, noting, “They fled after 15 minutes without occupying the post.”

Bajaur: A strategic hotspot

Bajaur, a district of over 1.28 million people, lies along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border and shares boundaries with Afghanistan's Kunar province. Internally, it borders Lower Dir and Mohmand, both of which also touch Afghanistan.

The district has long been a hotspot for TTP activity. According to the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Bajaur has seen 143 violent incidents since March 2000, including 55 explosions and three suicide attacks.

Counterterrorism efforts

Police and Frontier Corps regularly conduct intelligence-based operations in Bajaur. Over the past year, 27 such operations eliminated 27 militants, while the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) reported thwarting several plots, killing 270 militants and arresting 802 others.

The conviction rate for terrorists in Pakistan has also improved, rising from 13% in 2022 to 38% in 2024, according to police data.

Challenges at Afghan border

Akhtar Ali Shah, a former Inspector General of Police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, likened the Bajaur flag incident to a December attack in South Waziristan where 16 security personnel were killed. He highlighted the persistent use of Afghan soil by militants to stage attacks on Pakistan.

Shah stated that Afghan territory continues to be used against Pakistan, as militants frequently breach the border fencing to infiltrate tribal districts.

"In this context, China's role is crucial in pressuring Afghanistan to prevent its soil from being used against Pakistan, while Pakistan must further strengthen its border security", he advised.