The Pakistani military said on February 18, 2025, that it had killed 30 Islamist militants in an operation in South Waziristan, which is close to the Afghan border.
Targeting a militant location in the unstable region, which has been a hub for insurgent activity, this operation was characterized as a “intelligence-based” effort.
Since independent journalists and human rights organizations are not allowed in the lawless tribal area, which has long served as a safe haven for Islamist militants, it is challenging to independently verify any information.
The dead militants were known as “Khwarij,” a term the Pakistani government uses to identify members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that the UN has classified as a terrorist organization.
Attacks by the TTP against Pakistani security forces have escalated dramatically since
increasing military operations against them after rescinding a ceasefire in late 2022.
Pakistan claims to have set up training camps across the border and accuses the TTP of operating with assistance from Afghanistan. The Kabul-based Taliban government, however, has refuted these claims, claiming they are untrue and untrue.
The situation is still complicated because it is difficult to independently verify military claims because of regional restrictions on journalists and human rights organizations.
