Pakistani security forces kill 6 militants in separate raids near the border with Afghanistan

Pakistani security forces kill 6 militants in separate raids near the border with Afghanistan, footprints of the Islamic State group are also found in the region

Pakistan’s military says security forces have raided two militant hideouts in regions near the border with Afghanistan, triggering intense shootouts that left six insurgents dead during the Eid holidays.

A military statement said the two raids were conducted earlier on June 30, in Tank and North Waziristan districts on credible intelligence information about intrusion and hiding of militants in the areas near the border with Afghanistan.

Security forces also seized weapons and ammunition from the hideout and were carrying out a clearance operation of the area, the military said on June 30.

Also read: Shootout in northwest Pakistan, along Afghan border, kills 3 soldiers, 3 militants

The military gave no further details about the identity or affiliation of the six dead, but largely militants belong to factions of TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), which is generally known as PT (Pakistani Taliban).

TTP is a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in the neighbouring country in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) troops were in the final stages of their pullout. The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has emboldened the PT, which has stepped up attacks on police and troops in recent months.

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