Six Pakistani soldiers and 13 militants were killed during a series of security operations and an improvised explosive device (IED) attack across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces between September 15 and 17.
According to the military’s media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), six soldiers died on Tuesday when an IED struck their convoy in KP.
In response to growing militant activity, security forces launched multiple intelligence-based operations. In KP's North Waziristan district, troops targeted a militant hideout, killing six fighters during an intense exchange of fire. A separate operation in the Hangu district left four more militants dead. The military identified these militants as members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which the state officially designates as "Fitna al-Khawarij," alleging foreign sponsorship.
Simultaneously in the Badrang area of Balochistan’s Awaran district, security forces killed three armed militants affiliated with local separatist organizations, categorized by the state as "Fitna al Hindustan."
The ISPR confirmed that a significant cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants who were wanted for numerous recent attacks.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in militant violence over the past year, largely concentrated in the KP and Balochistan regions. Security forces are currently conducting extensive clearance operations across the affected districts. The military reiterated its commitment to eliminating militancy under its ongoing counterterrorism campaign"Azm-e-Istehkam."
