Security forces have neutralized at least 10 terrorists in five separate operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported on Friday.
According to the military’s media wing, an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted in the Khulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district.
“During the operation, our troops effectively targeted the terrorists’ hideout, eliminating four militants,” the ISPR statement read.
Meanwhile, security personnel engaged in four separate encounters in the Datta Khel, Hassan Khel, Ghulam Khan, and Mir Ali areas of North Waziristan. During these clashes, six more terrorists were taken down.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed militants, who were reportedly involved in multiple attacks against security forces and civilians in the region.
Additionally, sanitization operations are underway to clear any remaining threats in the area, as security forces remain committed to eradicating terrorism from the country, the ISPR stated.
These operations come amid an increase in violent attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The year 2024 was one of the deadliest for Pakistan’s civil and military security forces in a decade, with at least 685 personnel killed and 444 terrorist attacks recorded, according to the CRSS Annual Security Report 2024 by the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies.
The report also highlighted that civilian and security personnel losses reached 1,612 fatalities, constituting over 63% of the total deaths recorded in 2024. This figure was 73% higher than the 934 militants killed during the year.
Overall, the total fatalities in 2024 reached a nine-year high, with a 66% increase compared to 2023. On average, nearly seven people lost their lives daily, with November being the deadliest month of the year.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered the highest number of casualties, recording 1,616 fatalities, followed by Balochistan with 782. In total, Pakistan experienced 2,546 violence-related deaths and 2,267 injuries among civilians, security forces, and militants.
These casualties resulted from 1,166 incidents, including terrorist attacks and counter-terror operations, underscoring the serious security challenges faced by the country.
