Pakistani Army: 23 militants killed in two operations in the northwest of the country

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups:

The Pakistani army announced today, Thursday, the killing of 23 militants in two separate operations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, on the border with Afghanistan. The army explained, in a statement published by Public Relations (ISPR), that the first operation targeted an armed group in the tribal area of Kurram, resulting in the killing of 12 militants after a heavy exchange of fire. In the second operation, security forces targeted another cell in the same area, leading to the killing of 11 additional militants, while combing operations continue to ensure the area is clear of any other armed elements. The statement confirmed that the expanded security campaign aims to eliminate "externally supported terrorism." President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif praised the performance and professionalism of the armed forces, affirming the full support of the Pakistani people in the fight against terrorism. The army indicated that the number of militants killed this week in counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has reached 42, amid an increase in armed attacks in the northwestern provinces and Balochistan.