At least 22 terrorists were killed and six soldiers martyred in three separate encounters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.
The military’s media wing reported that the operations took place between December 6 and 7 in the Tank, North Waziristan, and Thall districts of KP.
In Tank district, an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Gul Imam area led to the killing of 9 terrorists, while six others were injured after security forces successfully targeted their location based on intelligence reports.
In a separate operation in North Waziristan, security forces neutralized 10 terrorists.
In Thall district, security forces thwarted a terrorist attack on a check post, killing three terrorists during the exchange of fire.
Unfortunately, six soldiers, who fought bravely, embraced martyrdom during these intense confrontations. The ISPR confirmed that follow-up sanitization operations were launched to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area.
The ISPR stated, “Security forces are resolute in their commitment to eradicating terrorism, and the sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our determination.”
It is important to note that the third quarter of 2024 (July-September) witnessed a significant rise in terrorist violence and counter-terrorism operations, with a 90% increase in fatalities, according to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The report noted that 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and criminals, with another 615 wounded in 328 recorded incidents during this period.
Almost 97% of the fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan, marking the highest percentage in a decade. The report also highlighted that over 92% of terrorist attacks and security force operations took place in these provinces.
The total fatalities in the first three quarters of this year have surpassed those recorded in all of 2023, with 1,534 fatalities reported so far, compared to 1,523 in 2023.
Meanwhile, terrorist groups continue to strengthen their ranks, with many attacks remaining unclaimed by insurgent organizations, likely for tactical reasons, as the report suggests.
