A terrorist affiliated with a banned outfit was killed during a fierce exchange of fire with security forces in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, officials said Tuesday.
The slain militant, identified as Hamza, was linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and had been involved in multiple attacks targeting security personnel. The clash erupted during an intelligence-driven operation, prompting a rapid response from troops, who eliminated the threat. A search operation is underway to locate other militants believed to be hiding in the region.
Security sources confirm that the area remains sensitive due to recent TTP movements, particularly along the porous Afghan border, raising alarms over the re-emergence of cross-border militancy.
Wave of Violence Across KP and Balochistan
This incident comes amid a wider surge in militant violence across Pakistan’s western border regions, with multiple deadly encounters reported today alone.
In Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 terrorists were eliminated in a fierce gun battle, while 11 soldiers embraced martyrdom during the operation. Elsewhere, in Panjgur, Balochistan, three terrorists were neutralised, but at the cost of three soldiers’ lives.
These coordinated attacks underscore a disturbing pattern of revived militant activity, primarily in areas adjacent to the Afghanistan border, regions that have repeatedly witnessed infiltration attempts and terrorist attacks linked to Afghan-based elements.
Tirah Valley at the Centre of Resistance and Retaliation
In Tirah, local resistance against TTP presence has intensified in recent weeks. Residents, fed up with militant intimidation, have taken matters into their own hands. Through sustained protests and community mobilisation, they recently forced TTP militants to retreat from parts of the valley, a significant victory in a volatile region.
On September 25, a separate infiltration attempt in Tirah was successfully foiled, resulting in the death of a militant who was later identified as an Afghan national. The presence of foreign fighters and repeated incursions from across the border point to a broader, more organised threat network operating from within Afghanistan.
Mounting Global Pressure on Kabul Over Terror Safe Havens
Despite repeated denials by the Taliban regime in Kabul, there is growing consensus among regional and global powers that Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for outlawed terrorist organisations, particularly the TTP and other transnational militant outfits.
Recent reports and ground intelligence; corroborated by Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian states, all point toward the resurgence of foreign terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, with frequent cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians.
The Taliban government’s unwillingness or inability to act against these groups is fueling instability not just in Pakistan, but across the region.
Pakistan’s Warning: Cross-Border Terror Will Not Be Tolerated
Security officials have made it clear that Pakistan will not allow its soil to be turned into a battleground by foreign-sponsored terrorists. The Tirah operation and today’s deadly clashes in Orakzai and Panjgur serve as stark reminders that Pakistan’s war against terrorism is far from over, and increasingly complicated by external sanctuaries and internal enablers.
With both the military and local communities now pushing back against militancy, Pakistan is once again calling on the Taliban regime to fulfil its counterterrorism commitments under the Doha Agreement and bilateral assurances.
Unless concrete action is taken, officials warn, the cost of inaction in Afghanistan will be borne by the entire region.
