Pakistan’s military says it has killed 74 armed fighters in a series of raids in areas along the country’s borders with Afghanistan. The operations were reported in the southwestern province of Balochistan and in two districts of the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where several armed groups are based.
In a statement shared on social media on Friday, November 13, the military’s news division said 31 people it described as terrorists had been killed in Balochistan since November 3. It also reported recovering weapons, explosives and ammunition during the operations. The province is the scene of an armed rebellion by the Balochistan Liberation Army, or BLA, which seeks independence for the region.
A separate military update said raids in Mir Ali had killed 35 fighters over the previous two days, while another eight were killed in Orakzai. Weapons were also recovered, according to the military. Both districts are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a base for the Pakistan Taliban, known as the TTP, and other armed groups.
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces, saying their successes demonstrated Pakistan’s national resolve and the military’s professional capabilities. He called for operations to continue against what he described as externally sponsored terrorist elements seeking to undermine the country’s security.
The military referred to the fighters as “Khawarij”, a label it applies to fighters it says receive backing from Afghanistan, including members of the TTP. Islamabad has accused both Afghanistan and India of supporting armed groups operating against Pakistan. Kabul and Delhi deny those accusations.
The TTP is a separate organisation from the Afghan Taliban, although the two are allied. The Afghan Taliban took power in 2021. Pakistani authorities believe the TTP operates from territory across the Afghan border and holds it responsible for an increase in attacks inside Pakistan in recent years.
Disputes over the group’s presence and activities have damaged relations between Islamabad and Kabul. The tensions have also led to armed confrontations in which civilians have been killed, adding to the consequences of the disagreement between the neighbouring countries.
The military’s announcements followed a deadly attack on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday. Authorities said alleged TTP fighters ambushed a convoy in Kohat district, killing at least 11 police officers and wounding another 12.
