Pakistan says 29 militants killed in nationwide operations

Pakistan’s military said it had killed 29 militants in a series of counterterrorism operations carried out nationwide over the past three days, as security forces continue to confront a surge in militant activity.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations, cited by foreign media, the operations included an intelligence-based raid in the Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, August 7, where at least seven militants were killed during an exchange of fire.

The military said Hamza Akram, a 27-year-old army captain from Narowal, was killed while leading his unit in the pursuit of militants during the operation.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants, who were accused of involvement in attacks against security forces, law enforcement personnel and civilians.

The latest actions followed operations on Thursday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 10 militants were killed in two separate engagements. Eight were killed while attempting to attack checkpoints in South Waziristan, and two others were killed in an operation in the Dir area.

Earlier, on Wednesday and Thursday, security forces killed 12 militants in operations in Washuk and Mastung in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Six militants were killed in each district, with a militant hideout also destroyed in Mastung.

Pakistan has seen a rise in militant violence in recent years. Authorities in Islamabad have linked the attacks to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which they say operates from bases in Afghanistan. Officials in Kabul deny the accusations.

By Tamilla Hasanova