Pakistan security forces kill 24 militants in retaliatory raids after attacks
Pakistan's military said on Friday that its security forces had killed 24 members of militant groups in intelligence-based operations in the country's northwest. The raids came in response to two attacks earlier in the week, including a suicide bombing that targeted police and civilians.
The operations were carried out over the previous day in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. The military stated that those killed belonged to the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). A cache of weapons was also recovered during the raids.
The two attacks on Wednesday included a suicide bomber who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into police officers and civilians, and an assault by a little-known militant group on a police station in Bannu district. Several police officers were injured in the latter attack.
The military did not specify the exact locations of the raids but said they were intelligence-based and conducted near the Afghan border. The TTP and BLA are designated as terrorist organisations by Pakistan and have been responsible for numerous attacks in the region.
Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants who cross the border to launch attacks, a charge that Afghanistan denies. The latest operations underscore the ongoing security challenges in the region despite efforts to maintain peace.
