Rescuers and security forces conduct operations across Pakistan’s northwest as border tensions escalate (Photo: File)
A string of coordinated operations near the Afghan border has put Pakistan's security establishment in the spotlight again, after leaving 30 militants dead. Conducted across several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the raids come amidst rising violence and fresh acrimony with Kabul.
Still reeling from a deadly suicide bombing outside an Islamabad court, the latest crackdown underlines Islamabad's urgency to control the growing threat posed by militant groups aligned with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the Pakistan Army, the largest operation was carried out in the Kurram district, where 23 militants linked to the TTP or its allied outfits were killed. A follow-up statement confirmed that seven more were eliminated in Mohmand, Lakki Marwat and Tank in separate raids conducted between November 18 and 19.
Authorities say these networks have been increasingly active-particularly after the recent bombing that killed 12 people and injured many others in Islamabad's G-11 area.
Pakistan has again blamed Afghanistan's Taliban government for harboring members of TTP who plot attacks on Pakistani soil. Kabul has denied the allegations, countering that Pakistan should take responsibility for its internal security failures.
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The military has also reiterated accusations that India backs parts of these militant groups, which New Delhi denies, stating the claims are baseless and politically-driven. The accusations echo a broader regional tension that complicates counterterrorism efforts along the Durand Line.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated over recent months. Heavy exchanges of fire in October turned into one of the bloodiest border clashes in years, killing more than 70 people on both sides.
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Talks hosted in Istanbul aimed at restoring calm ended without any agreement, with both countries blaming each other for the collapse of negotiations. The border remains closed and mass deportations of long-settled Afghan nationals from Pakistan have added further strain.
The military insists it will continue operating at full pace to dismantle foreign-backed militant networks. Yet the greater challenge remains the unresolved geopolitical tensions that fuel instability across the border.
So long as Kabul and Islamabad are locked in a cycle of accusations and mistrust, the risk of further violence will be heightened. For now, the operations seem to signal Pakistan’s intent to respond forcefully, but long-term peace is tied to diplomacy as much as military action.
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Disclaimer: It is based on publicly available information and does not endorse any political claims or allegations by involved parties.
