Pakistani security forces have conducted separate raids near the border with Afghanistan, resulting in the death of six militants during the Eid holidays. The operations took place in the Tank and North Waziristan districts based on credible intelligence about the presence of militants in the region.
A statement issued by the military on June 30 clarified that intense shootouts occurred during the raids, leading to the elimination of the insurgents. The security forces also seized a significant cache of weapons and ammunition from the hideouts. In addition to the raids, the military is currently engaged in a clearance operation to secure the area.
While no specific details were provided about the identity or affiliation of the militants, it is common for such operations to target factions of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is generally known as Pakistani Taliban.
The TTP has close ties with the Afghan Taliban, which recently assumed power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops in August 2021. The Pakistani Taliban has been emboldened by the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan and has intensified its attacks on security forces and law enforcement personnel in recent months.
The region near the border with Afghanistan is also known to have a presence of the Islamic State (IS) group. Just days before these raids, security forces killed an IS commander, Shafi Ullah, in the Bajur district through an intelligence-based operation. He was among three militants eliminated on June 28.
Pakistan's military has been actively conducting operations in the tribal belt along the Afghan border in recent years. These operations aim to eliminate local and foreign militants who have used the region as a safe haven for many decades. Despite the military's efforts, militants still manage to carry out sporadic attacks in the area.
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