The Pakistani military announced that it killed 13 members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two separate clashes in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the statement, these individuals were killed on December 12 and 13 in the course of “intelligence-based operations.”
Seven militants were eliminated in the Mohmand region and six others in Bannu.
The Pakistani military did not comment on any potential casualties sustained by its own forces during the operations.
The army has launched an operation named “Azm-e-Istehkam” (Resolve for Stability) to eradicate “terrorists.” Islamabad identifies India as the primary backer of these militants, but also blames the Afghan Taliban.
The Pakistani military stated that it is fully committed to eliminating the threat of “externally supported terrorism.”
The Afghan Taliban, however, considers terrorism to be an internal issue and the result of Pakistan’s “mistaken” policies.
Islamabad maintains that TTP members the group responsible for numerous security incidents in Pakistan—are present in Afghanistan and are being supported by the Taliban.
United Nations experts have also reported the presence of the TTP in Afghanistan, a claim which the Taliban rejects.
