In a significant military operation, Pakistani security forces eliminated eight militants in North Waziristan, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban. The operation occurred overnight, as troops engaged in an intense shootout with insurgents, leading to the seizure of weapons and ammunition from their hideout, according to a military statement released Thursday.
The military did not disclose the affiliations of the slain militants, but such operations typically target the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that has increasingly posed a threat since the Afghan Taliban regained control in Afghanistan in 2021. The TTP has maintained ties with the Afghan Taliban, complicating security dynamics in the region.
The Pakistani military has previously conducted multiple operations to dismantle TTP bases in North Waziristan, where many militants have sought refuge, raising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan as Islamabad urges Kabul to prevent TTP attacks from Afghan territory.