16 TTP Terrorists Killed, Two Pakistani Soldiers Die in North Waziristan Operations: ISPR

Rawalpindi (Terror Monitor) — Pakistani security forces have killed 16 suspected members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including two Afghan nationals, during a series of intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while two Pakistan Army soldiers were killed in exchanges of fire, the military's media wing said on Saturday.

Security forces killed 12 militants, including two Afghan nationals, in Ali Khel, while two militants each were killed in separate engagements in Mir Ali and Datta Khel, according to the military.

The ISPR identified the two soldiers killed during the operations as 43-year-old Havildar Asmat Ali, a resident of Swabi district, and 32-year-old Naik Aftab Ali, who belonged to Mardan district.

Both soldiers were killed during intense exchanges of fire with the militants, the military said.

Two Afghan nationals among those killed

The military's media wing said the two Afghan nationals killed in Ali Khel were affiliated with what it described as the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used by Pakistani authorities for members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The ISPR alleged that the militants were involved in multiple terrorist activities, including attacks resulting in the deaths of civilians.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants' possession, the statement added.

The military said sanitisation operations were continuing in the affected areas to locate and eliminate any remaining militants.

Broader counterterrorism operations across Pakistan

The latest North Waziristan operations came amid an intensified wave of counterterrorism activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

In a separate development, Pakistan's military said security forces had killed another eight militants, including a suspected suicide bomber, in an operation in the Kolpur area of Balochistan.

According to the ISPR, the operation was part of a broader security campaign launched in the province, including activities around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki.

The military also reported that two additional soldiers, including a major, were killed when militants attacked military patrol vehicles using armed quadcopters in Balochistan on Saturday.

The two soldiers were identified as Major Omer Minhas Nasir, a resident of Chakwal district, and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan, who belonged to Kotli Sattian.

With these separate developments, the military reported a combined total of 24 militants killed and four soldiers killed in the operations and engagements across North Waziristan and Balochistan.

International media report on latest operations

International news agency Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday that Pakistani security forces had killed 24 militants in separate counterterrorism operations across North Waziristan and Balochistan.

The agency, citing the Pakistani military, reported that 16 militants, including two Afghan nationals, were killed in North Waziristan, while another eight were killed in Balochistan.

Anadolu also reported the deaths of soldiers in separate engagements, including two personnel killed in the quadcopter attack on military patrol vehicles in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the latest operations followed an earlier announcement by the military that 74 militants had been killed in counterterrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

According to the earlier ISPR statement, 43 militants were killed during operations conducted over 48 hours in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 35 in North Waziristan's Mir Ali area and eight in Orakzai district.

Another 31 militants were reported killed during a separate operation in Balochistan that began on November 3.

TTP insurgency and Pakistan's security situation

Pakistan has experienced a sustained increase in militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani government in November 2022.

The TTP has subsequently claimed responsibility for numerous attacks targeting security forces, police installations and government facilities.

Pakistan's military has repeatedly accused the group of operating with support from foreign networks, an allegation that has been denied by neighbouring countries.

The ISPR said counterterrorism operations under the government's Azm-e-Istehkam initiative would continue at full pace to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism.

It added that the sacrifices of security personnel would further strengthen the country's determination to combat terrorism and restore lasting security.

The military said operations would continue until all remaining militant threats in the targeted areas had been eliminated.