30 suspected militants killed in northwest Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan

The Pakistan army said Saturday it killed at least 30 suspected militants in a string of security operations in the northwest.

In three operations in the Karak, Lakki Murwat and Khyber districts of northwestern Khyber Phaktunkhwa province, which serves as a gateway to Afghanistan, six militants were also injured, it said in a statement.

Eighteen suspected militants were killed in Lakki Murwat, while eight and four were killed in Karak and Khyber, respectively.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the dead militants, who remained actively involved in "numerous" terror activities in the area against security forces as well as killing innocent civilians, said the military.

Pakistan saw an alarming surge in 2024, which, with a 40% increase in terror attacks, compared to 2023, marks the deadliest year for the country in nine years

It recorded 444 terror attacks that killed 685 soldiers and police officers, and 927 civilians in 2024, according to Islamabad-based think tank, the Center for Research and Security Studies.

Security forces killed 934 suspected militants last year.