Pakistan army says 74 fighters killed in border raids

Pakistan's military announced Friday that its forces killed 74 armed fighters in a series of raids along the country's borders with Afghanistan. In the southwestern province of Balochistan, 31 fighters were killed in operations running since November 3, with weapons, explosives and ammunition seized, the army's news division said in a social media statement.

The remaining 43 died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thirty-five were killed over the past two days in separate raids on Mir Ali, while eight died in Orakzai, the force said in an update. Balochistan is the base of the Balochistan Liberation Army, which is fighting for independence from Pakistan, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts the Pakistan Taliban, known as the TTP, and several other armed groups.

The army labelled the dead fighters as 'Khawarij', its term for fighters it says are backed by Afghanistan, including the TTP. Islamabad accuses both India and Afghanistan of supporting the armed groups; Delhi and Kabul deny any involvement.

President Asif Ali Zardari backed the operations in his own statement, saying the security forces' 'continued successes in the war against terrorism reflect national resolve and professional capabilities.' He added that operations 'must continue against externally sponsored terrorist elements seeking to undermine Pakistan's security.'

The raids follow a deadly ambush on Thursday, when alleged TTP fighters attacked a convoy in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 11 policemen and wounding 12 others. Although separate from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP is allied with the group that took power in Kabul in 2021, and Pakistani authorities believe it operates from Afghan territory — a dispute that has strained ties between the neighbours and led to armed confrontations with civilian deaths.