Pakistani security forces have conducted multiple raids over more than a week on militant hideouts in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, resulting in the killing of 37 insurgents, the military announced on Friday. Additionally, troops eliminated five insurgents in another operation in the country's restive southwest.
The intensified operations come in response to recent attacks in the Balochistan province, where more than 50 people were killed by insurgents in multiple assaults on police, security forces, and civilians.
The military revealed that a dozen militants were killed overnight in the Tirah Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan. This brings the total number of insurgents killed in the region to 37 since August 20.
In separate operations, security forces took down five insurgents who were allegedly involved in the recent deadly attacks in Balochistan, according to another statement released by the military.
The Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, informed the Senate that the recent attacks in Balochistan were believed to be aimed at disrupting the upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, scheduled to be hosted by Islamabad in October. However, no evidence was provided to support this assertion.
The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the recent violence in Balochistan, a region plagued by a prolonged insurgency. Various separatist groups in Balochistan have been carrying out attacks, primarily targeting security forces, as they push for independence from the central government.
