Pakistani security forces have killed 24 militants during a series of intelligence based operations near the country’s northwestern border with Afghanistan, as authorities grapple with a sharp rise in militant violence in the region.
The raids were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where Pakistani troops targeted suspected militant hideouts following intelligence reports. The military said the operations resulted in the deaths of 24 militants and the recovery of weapons, ammunition and explosives.
Pakistan’s military said the operations were part of its ongoing campaign against armed groups operating near the Afghan border, an area that has experienced a resurgence in attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Officials accused militants of using Afghan territory to plan and launch cross-border attacks, allegations that Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have repeatedly denied.
The latest operations come amid growing concerns over deteriorating security in Pakistan’s western regions, where attacks targeting security personnel and civilians have increased in recent months. Authorities say militant groups, including the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), remain among the country’s most significant security threats.
Pakistan has intensified military operations and border security measures in response to the escalating violence while calling on Afghanistan’s interim government to prevent its territory from being used by armed groups. Kabul has rejected accusations that it harbours militants targeting Pakistan.
Security analysts warn that continued instability along the Afghanistan Pakistan border poses a significant challenge to regional security and could further strain relations between the neighbouring countries.
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