Security Forces Neutralize Eight Terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Peshawar: Security forces successfully eliminated eight terrorists in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Tuesday.
The engagements occurred between January 12 and 13, with the first operation being intelligence-based and conducted in the Tank district. According to the military’s media wing, security forces targeted a location linked to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to as khwarij, neutralizing six terrorists.
In a separate encounter in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, two more khwarij were neutralized by the troops.
Sanitization operations are ongoing in the area to eliminate any remaining threats. The ISPR reaffirmed the security forces’ resolve to eradicate terrorism and ensure the nation’s safety.
This announcement follows a high-profile operation in Balochistan’s Kacchi district, where 27 terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation just a day earlier.
Rising Threats Amid Increased Violence
Pakistan continues to face escalating militant attacks, particularly in the border regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
According to the CRSS Annual Security Report 2024 by the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies, the past year was the deadliest for Pakistan’s security forces in a decade. The report recorded 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks in 2024.
Cumulative losses, including civilians and security personnel, reached 1,612 fatalities—over 63% of the total recorded incidents—marking a 73% increase in losses compared to 2023. The report also noted that 934 militants were eliminated during the year.
The rising toll highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures and sustained efforts to counter terrorism in the region.
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