Islamabad: Pakistan’s army announced on Tuesday that it had eliminated 30 Islamist militants in South Waziristan, a volatile region near the Afghan border, as part of an ongoing operation to clear the area of insurgents. The operation targeted militants who operate across both Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to military sources.
South Waziristan, a historically lawless tribal district, has long served as a sanctuary for Islamist militants. Due to security restrictions, independent journalists and human rights organizations have limited access to the region, making independent verification of events challenging.
The militants, who have been waging an insurgency against the Pakistani state, seek to dismantle the government and establish a strict Shariah-based Islamic system. Attacks have intensified since the militants withdrew from a ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022. Recent operations by militant groups have primarily targeted the military and its installations, marking an escalation in hostilities.
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In its statement, the Pakistani army did not specify the affiliations of the slain militants or provide details on their group memberships. However, Islamabad has repeatedly accused militant factions of operating training camps within Afghanistan and orchestrating attacks on Pakistani soil. The Taliban-led government in Kabul has denied these allegations.
