Security forces kill 8 militants in northwestern Pakistan

ISLAMABAD

Security forces killed eight militants in northwestern Pakistan, the army said on Saturday.

“Security Forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in the area of Zarmilan, South Waziristan district. During the conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists,” it said in a statement.

It added that two soldiers were killed.

“Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. Security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it said.

Terror attacks have increased in Pakistan in recent months, especially in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Following a surge in attacks since the Taliban's recapture of Afghanistan in 2021, Islamabad has been urging Kabul not to allow militant groups to use its soil as a launch pad to attack Pakistani security forces.

North Waziristan, South Waziristan and the Khyber district -- once dubbed the heartland of militancy -- are among seven former semi-autonomous tribal districts where the army has mounted a series of operations since 2014 to eliminate the TTP, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella organization of several militant groups operating in Pakistan.

Successive operations pushed the TTP toward neighboring Afghanistan and Islamabad claims the terror network has now set up bases across the border to attack Pakistani security forces.

Pakistan is believed to have a degree of influence over the Taliban.

But despite Islamabad's hopes for a further decrease in attacks from border areas following the Taliban’s retaking control of Kabul, the army has still been facing a series of deadly attacks.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar