Pakistan Army: One Commander and Seven Militants Killed in Hangu Operation.
The Pakistan Army said on Saturday, 17 Asad, that one army commander and seven militants were killed during a security forces operation in the Hangu area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Pakistan Army said that a number of weapons and a quantity of ammunition were also recovered from the militants during the operation.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Army, the slain commander was 27-year-old Hamza Akram, who was killed during an exchange of fire with the militants. The Pakistan Army described the militants killed in the operation as “India-backed Khawarij,” a term Pakistani officials use to refer to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
In recent weeks, clashes between Pakistani security forces and militant groups have intensified in parts of the country. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are among the areas that have witnessed an increase in military operations and militant attacks.
Islamabad has repeatedly alleged in recent years that members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan use Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks against Pakistan. Afghan Taliban authorities have rejected the allegation, saying they do not allow Afghan territory to be used to launch attacks against any other country.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban over allegations of the presence and activities of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan have persisted in recent years. Islamabad has called on Kabul to take action against the group, while Afghan Taliban officials have reiterated that they will not allow attacks against Pakistan or any other country to be carried out from Afghan territory.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
