Pakistan military forces killed 74 armed fighters during a series of counter-insurgency raids along the country’s borders with Afghanistan, the army reported on Friday.
Thirty-one fighters died in the southwestern Balochistan province starting from November 3, according to a statement from the military’s news division posted on social media. Security forces also seized multiple weapons, explosives, and ammunition during these operations.
Balochistan experiences an ongoing armed rebellion led by the Balochistan Liberation Army. The group campaigns for the region’s independence from Pakistan.
Another 35 fighters died over a two-day period in separate operations in Mir Ali. Security forces killed eight other fighters in Orakzai and recovered weapons caches from both locations, the army stated.
Both Mir Ali and Orakzai are situated in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This region serves as a base for the Pakistan Taliban, known as the TTP, alongside several other armed factions.
The Pakistani military refers to these fighters as Khawarij. Officials claim the TTP and allied groups receive backing from Afghanistan.
The TTP maintains an alliance with the Afghan Taliban, which assumed power in Kabul in 2021. While the two groups operate separately, Pakistani authorities maintain that the TTP stages cross-border attacks from Afghan territory.
Islamabad has accused both Afghanistan and India of supporting these armed groups. Both New Delhi and Kabul have denied any involvement.
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the operations in an official statement. He said the security forces achieved continued successes in the fight against terrorism, reflecting national resolve and professional capabilities.
President Zardari added that operations must continue against externally sponsored elements aiming to undermine national security.
These border security operations coincide with higher regional tensions. The dispute over cross-border militant sanctuaries has strained diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul, leading to previous armed clashes.
Violence persists within Pakistan despite the military operations. Local authorities confirmed that alleged TTP fighters ambushed a police convoy in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, killing 11 policemen and wounding 12 others.
