In a recent security operation in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistani security forces conducted a raid on a militant hideout, resulting in a fierce gunbattle. The clash led to the deaths of army captain Hasnain Akhtar and ten militants. The military highlighted Akhtar’s bravery, noting his leadership from the front and his ultimate sacrifice. The dead militants were referred to as “Khwarij,” a term used for the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP), who are aligned with the Afghan Taliban. This group has gained strength since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
In a separate operation, security forces engaged in four encounters in North Waziristan’s areas of Datta Khel, Hassan Khel, Ghulam Khan, and Mir Ali, resulting in the elimination of six terrorists. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the deceased, who were involved in various terrorist activities against security forces and civilians.
These operations are part of a sustained effort to combat the surge in violent attacks in Pakistan, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
