ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Two Pakistani security personnel were killed in separate clashes with militants in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, according to local media reports.
The operations, conducted in the Bannu and Khyber districts, also resulted in the deaths of eight militants, Pakistani military officials said.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, reported that nine militants were wounded during the engagement in Bannu. Among the casualties was a 29-year-old soldier, Iftikhar Hussain, who lost his life during the operation.
In a separate raid in the Shagai area of Khyber district, security forces killed three militants and arrested two others. Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin, 25, was killed in the operation, the ISPR said.
The military has continued its operations in the region to root out militant activity, according to reports.
Rising security challenges
Pakistan has been grappling with a series of political and security crises in recent months. In addition to the escalating militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other regions, the country has witnessed widespread protests led by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Demonstrations have taken place in major cities, including Islamabad, further straining the government’s ability to address security concerns.
The resurgence of militancy in Pakistan’s tribal regions has drawn renewed attention to the fragile security situation in the country, as the military intensifies its operations against militant groups.
