The military police said their Intelligence based operations against militants have resulted in 21 casualties in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past three days.
The operations were conducted mainly in the North Waziristan district, where the security forces engaged in operations against peoples suspected of their involvement in militant activities. Of the dead were four top leaders of the militancy wanted for attacks on security personnel and civilians, officials said.
The military stated that during the operations, recovery of weapons and ammunition was made. The incursion was part of an ongoing counter-terrorism effort targeting the region’s militant networks, authorities said.
The military avers a day’s work in the area has resulted in the killing of a total of 48 militants in different operations during this past week. Follow up search and clearance operations would continue, security agencies said, to establish the presence of armed groups, and eliminate them, in the area.
In recent years, North Waziristan has been a hotspot for the Pakistani security forces, as it is home to militant groups and has witnessed frequent security incidents. The district has experienced several operations during the past months after attacks against both civilians and security forces were launched.
Road security issues have still remained in some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. There has been a rise in militant activity in several localities, which led to the development of heightened security and military operations.
Authorities have confirmed their willingness to keep up pressure on the militants and bolster security in the targeted areas as part of wider measures to fight terrorism and enhance stability in the affected areas.