The Pakistan Army launched a major operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the Afghan border. The raid began late Tuesday after intelligence reports revealed the presence of militants.
In the fierce gunbattle, 19 TTP terrorists were killed. Eleven Pakistani soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, also lost their lives. The Army said it will continue a “sanitisation” drive in the area to eliminate remaining militants.
This strike follows a series of recent anti-TTP operations. Last month, security forces killed 17 militants in Karak district, where three police officers were injured. Earlier, an intel-based raid in Dera Ismail Khan resulted in the death of 13 fighters.
Violence has sharply increased in Pakistan over the past few years. Analysts say the TTP grew more active after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. Many of its leaders are believed to be hiding across the border.
A recent report highlighted a 46% rise in terror-related violence in just three months, leaving 901 people dead. Most incidents hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone suffering over 70% of the fatalities.
