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- Pakistan army says eight militants killed, seven injured during shootout in northwestern district Bannu
- Pakistan’s security forces often carry out such operations against the Pakistani Taliban in KP province
ISLAMABAD: An army major was among three soldiers killed during an intelligence-based operation in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, the military’s media wing said, in a shootout that also resulted in the killing of eight militants.
Security forces conducted the operation at the Bakka Khel area of KP’s volatile district Bannu on Oct. 30, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, said in a statement. It said eight militants were killed while seven were injured during the exchange of fire between both sides.
“Major Atif Khalil (age: 31 years, resident of District Sudhanuti, Azad Kashmir), a brave officer, who was leading his troops from the front, fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat [martyrdom] along with his two men,” the ISPR said.
The other two soldiers killed alongside Major Khalil were Naik Azad Ullah, 36 and Lance Naik Ghazanfar Abbar, 35, the army’s media wing said.
“Sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any other khwarji found in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the military said.
Pakistan’s security forces often carry out such operations against the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The banned outfit is an ally of the Afghan Taliban but are a separate group.
The TTP have stepped up its assaults in Pakistan’s KP province since August 2021 after the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul and a fragile truce between the state and the TTP broke down in November 2022.
Pakistan blames Afghanistan’s government for sheltering TTP militants, accusing Kabul of not doing enough to stamp out militants allegedly using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. The Afghan government denies the allegations.
Pakistani forces have intensified their operations against the TTP and other insurgents, including separatist groups based in the restive southwestern Balochistan province.