Operation Azm-e-Istehkam

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Insurgency in Balochistan, Counter-Terrorism in Pakistan and the War on Terror
Date22 June 2024  – present
(2 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Pakistan Pakistan
Result Ongoing
Belligerents
 Pakistan
Jihadist groups
Baloch separatist groups
Commanders and leaders
Shehbaz Sharif
Asim Munir
Noor Wali Mehsud
Bashir Zeb
Nazar Baloch
Units involved

Jihadist groups

Baloch Separatist groups

Strength
700,000 security personnel including intelligence and law-enforcement personnel[citation needed] Unknown

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam (Urdu: آپریشن عزم استحکام) is a counter-insurgency operation launched by the government of Pakistan in June 2024.[1] The operation was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.[2] The operation will include not only military action, but also socio-economic uplift to deter extremism.[3]

Etymology

Azm-e-Istehkam translates into "Commitment for Stability" or "Resolve for Stability". Azm (عزم) means "commitment" or "resolve", while Istehkam (استحکام) means "stability" in Urdu. The phrase Azm-e-Istehkam has been chosen by the government to emphasize onto the non-kinetic[further explanation needed] parameters of the operation aimed at socio-economic upliftment to counter extremism.[4]

Background

Pakistan has been facing a looming Islamist insurgency in North-Western parts of the country since 2001 that came to haunt Pakistani state in an aftermath of 9/11 attacks. The al-Qaeda terrorists fled Afghanistan seek refuge in the bordering Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. The insurgency blew up in 2004 when tensions rooted in the Pakistan Army's search for al-Qaeda fighters in Pakistan's mountainous Waziristan area escalated into armed resistance. Pakistan's actions were presented as its contribution to the U.S. War on terror.

The situation in erstwhile FATA further complicated with the emergence of Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Local Pakistani jihadi fighters that had previously fought Soviets, with support from Central Asian militant groups along with Arab fighters of al-Qaeda, in 2007 formed TTP.

The TTP emerged as one of the most lethal groups with the goal to overthrow Government of Pakistan in Islamabad and replace it with a Taliban-style government.

History of Pakistan's previous military campaigns

Responding to the threat posed by the Islamists, Pakistan Army under command of General Kayani's tenure started to turn the tide in its war against terrorism. In order to contain the militants General Kayani launched series of military campaigns to recapture areas fallen in the hands of militants from 2007 to 2013 beginning with Operation Rah-e-Haq. The campaign that launched by Kayani ended with success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in late 2016. Pakistan Army under the Kayani Doctrine was able to capture six tribal agencies and four settled districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa including Swat and South Waziristan, which were two strongholds of TTP.

The last operation Zarb-e-Azb was conducted by the Kayani's successor General Raheel Sharif to purge last remaining agency of North Waziristan from the clutches of TTP. Thus, Pakistan Armed Forces successfully recaptured seven tribal agencies of FATA and four districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by conducting a bloody armed campaign from 2007 to 2016.

Military campaign by Pakistan Armed forces since 2002
# Campaign Date location Results
Operation al-Mizan 2002-2006 North Waziristan Stalemate between Islamic militants and Government of Pakistan
Operation Rah-e-Haq 25 October 2007– 8 December 2007 Swat Valley and Shangla Pakistani victory
Operation Zalzala January 2008-May 2008 Spinkai, South Waziristan Pakistani victory
  • Following the operation, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) offered a truce and peace negotiations resulting in a suspension of violence.
  • In spite of the victory in the operation, on 21 May 2008 Pakistan signed a peace agreement with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
  • Short-lived peace in South Waziristan.
Operation Sirat-e-Mustaqeem 28 June 2008 – 9 July 2008 Bara Pakistani victory
  • Pakistan Army gained control of strategic town of Bara on the outskirts of Peshawar.
  • The Peshawar was secured from the threat of militant takeover.
  • Destruction of LeI command and training centers.
Operation Sherdil 7 August 2008 – 28 February 2009 Bajaur Agency Pakistani victory
Operation Black Thunderstorm 26 April 2009 – 14 June 2009 Pakistani victory
Operation Rah-e-Rast 16 May 2009 – 15 July 2009 Swat Decisive Pakistani victory
  • Sub-Operation of Black Thunderstorm specifically targeted to flush out militants from Swat
  • Swat returned to government control
  • Multiple Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan commanders captured or killed
  • Ensured long term peace in Swat
Operation Rah-e-Nijat 19 June 2009 – 12 December 2009 South Waziristan Agency Pakistani victory
2009 Khyber Pass Offensive 1 September 2009 – 30 September 2009 Khyber Agency Pakistani victory
Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham September 2009-21 January 2011 Pakistani victory
Operation Brekhna 3 November 2009 – 20 December 2012 Mohmand Agency Pakistani victory
  • Mohmand Agency fell back into the government control
  • Leadership of TTP fled to Afghanistan
  • Failure to kill or capture Ayman al-Zawahiri
  • Enduring peace in Mohmand
Operation Koh-e-Sufaid 4 July 2011 – 18 August 2011 Kurram Agency Pakistani victory
Operation Rah-e-Shahadat 5 April 2013 – 30 June 2013 Tirah Valley Pakistani victory
  • Militants flushed out from Tirah Valley
  • Headquarters of Lashkar-e-Islam destroyed
  • TTP and LeI leadership fled across Afghanistan
  • Militants continued to pose threat to Khyber Agency from across the border.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb 12 June 2014 – 22 February 2017 North-Waziristan Agency Pakistani victory
Operation Khyber 7 October 2014 – 21 August 2017 Khyber Agency Pakistani victory
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad 22 February 2017- November 2022 Across Pakistan Pakistani tactical victory

Strategic failure

  • Unlike previous military campaign operation was not aimed at regaining lost territory but to purge Pakistan of sleeper cells that escaped across country
  • 375,000 intelligence-based operations conducted as of 2021
  • Afghanistan-Pakistan border barrier erected with 1000 military forts to man the border.
  • According to Delhi-based South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) 2019 was post peaceful year for Pakistan since the time of start of insurgency in 2004, the suicide attacks in Pakistan in 2019 was decreased to 8 from record high of 85 in 2009.
  • The seven tribal agencies of FATA merged into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for effective governance in 2018.
  • Resurgence of New wave of terrorism since fall of Kabul in 2021
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam 22 June 2024- Till date Across Pakistan and Afghanistan Ongoing

With help of military campaigns Pakistan Army was able to push back TTP into Afghanistan from where it continues to launch terrorist attacks on Pakistan. By 2014, the casualty rates from terrorism in the country as a whole dropped by 40% as compared to 2011–2013, with even greater drops noted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite a large massacre of schoolchildren by TTP terrorists in the province in December 2014. The reduction in hostilities eventually changed the conflict from a war to a relatively low-level conflict. However, massacre of schoolchildren in Peshawar and continues sense of insecurity forced Pakistani political leadership to draft National Action Plan.

National Action Plan 2014 and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad 2017

On 24 December 2014, the Parliament of Pakistan approved a 20-point National Action Plan to counter terrorism and extremism, that had been chalked out by the National Counter Terrorism Authority. The decision was taken following a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.[5] The plan was envisaged to undertake non-kinetic and kinetic measures to fight terrorism and extremism.

In line with National Action Plan, Pakistan launched Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad under its commander COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa. This operation was launched in order clean-off militants that escaped across country due to army's earlier campaigns in FATA. The operation was aimed at consolidating efforts of previous military campaigns.

Radd-ul-Fasaad vowed to tackle cross border militancy, purge sleeper cells in Urban Pakistan, flush of remnants militants escaped across country, and pursuit National Action Plan.The operation entailed the conduct of Broad Spectrum Security (Counter Terrorism) operations by Rangers in Punjab and Sindh, and by the Frontier Corps in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and focus on more effective border security management. Countrywide disarmament and explosive control were also given as additional objectives of the operation. The National Action Plan was pursued as the hallmark of this operation.[6][7]

Radd-ul-Fasaad resulted in major successes in counter-terrorism.

As a result of Radd-ul-Fasaad, TTP suffered huge losses and divided into various splinter groups that weakened its operational capabilities. According to Delhi-based South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) 2019 was post peaceful year for Pakistan since the time of start of insurgency in 2004. According to SATP, The suicide attacks in Pakistan in 2019 was decreased to 8 from record high of 85 in 2009. By 2021, More than 375,000 operations have been carried out against terrorists, including over 150,000 in Sindh, 3,4000 in Punjab, more than 80,000 in Balochistan and over 92,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[8]

Operation was a tactical victory for Pakistan as country saw consolidation of gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb by further denting the terrorist capability to carry out activities against Pakistan which was visible in drastic drop in suicide and IED attacks. Yet it deemed as a strategic failure due to failure of operation to achieve objectives of National Action Plan. The country failed to foster durable peace, specially after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The political change in Afghanistan triggered new wave of terrorism in Pakistan. Since 2022 Pakistan has seen a visible uptick in terrorism-related incidents.

Resurgence in Insurgency since August 2021

After 2019, country saw slow implementation on the National Action Plan specially on its primary aim of combating extremism. Resultantly since fall of Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan is confronted with renewed threat of terrorism as TTP has been injected with fresh dose of strength due to the victory of Taliban in Afghanistan. The fresh recruits, easy access to US made weapons, and a sanctuary under the shadow of Afghan Taliban have once again bolstered the TTP to again target Pakistan. In 2023, Pakistan saw an increase in terror incidents, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan terminated its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.[9][10][5]

In 2022 After failure of negotiations, the TTP and the government announced a ceasefire in June 2022. However, in November 2022, the TTP renounced the ceasefire and called for nationwide attacks against Pakistan.

2022 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

Surge in terrorism led Pakistan to strike on TTP safe havens present on Afghan soil. On 16 April 2022, the Pakistani military conducted predawn airstrikes on multiple targets in Afghanistan's Spera District of Khost and Shultan District of Kunar provinces. Afghan officials said the attacks killed at least 47 civilians and injured 23 others. Initial reports described the attacks as either rocket strikes or aerial strikes carried out by a number of aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force, and Afghan officials claimed the operation was carried out by Pakistani military helicopters and jets. Pakistani officials initially denied Pakistan carried out the airstrikes, but Pakistani security officials later claimed the airstrikes involved drone strikes from inside Pakistani airspace, and that no aircraft were deployed. Some reports said the Pakistani airstrikes also targeted parts of Paktika Province. According to the Pakistani media and some Afghan media outlets, the attacks targeted militants belonging to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

2022 Pakistani airstrikes marked the first instance of foreign country launching attack on Afghanistan after establishment of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and withdrawal of US from Afghanistan.

2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan

On 18 March 2024, in response to the attack from Afghanistan, Pakistan Air Force carried out two intelligence based airstrikes on Afghanistan's eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika. The Afghan government claim that Pakistan killed five women and three children. Pakistan denies this, claiming that it killed terrorists instead while targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group, a splinter organization of the Pakistani Taliban, and that it had successfully killed Sehra alias Janan, a high-value target commander. Another commander, Abdullah Mehsud, was claimed to have been killed, but later released a video refuting the claim. It was also reported that Mehsud's house was targeted in which his wife and a minor son was killed. Pakistan went on to blame the Pakistani Taliban and its splinter militias for the deaths of hundreds of Pakistani civilians, and claimed that they used Afghanistan as a base and that they had support from within the Taliban.

2024 Pakistani airstrikes marks the third instance of foreign country launching attack on Afghanistan after establishment of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and withdrawal of US from Afghanistan followed by 2022 Pakistani Airstrikes and 2022 US Drone attack in Kabul

Given the deteriorating law and order situation in North-West Pakistan, on 7 April 2023, Pakistan's National Security Committee under leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to launch a new military operation to root out militants posing threats to its western regions. The meeting was also attended by the Pakistan's new military leadership COAS Asim Munir and CJCSC Sahir Shamshad Mirza.

On 22 June 2024, Pakistan's Apex Committee on National Action Plan approved a new operation codenamed as Azb-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability) that is meant to address slow implementation of National Action Plan specially by addressing its vow of healing extremism across Pakistan.

Approval and launch

On 22 June 2024, the operation was approved during a meeting of the Apex Committee on National Action Plan in Islamabad.[11] The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by key federal cabinet members, chief ministers from all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, provincial chief secretaries, services chiefs, and others.[2]

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified on 25 June 2024 that "Operation would not be large scale operation.Sharif said Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is being “misunderstood” and compared to previous military operations such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Rah-e-Nijat. He said militants in these operations were killed for creating “no-go areas” in the country and for challenging the writ of the state, adding that they caused massive displacement of the population. There are currently no such no-go areas in the country as the ability of terrorist organizations to carry out large-scale organized operations inside Pakistan has been decisively defeated by past armed operations. Therefore, no large-scale military operation which would require population displacement is being contemplated.Its objective is to instill a new spirit and drive in the ongoing implementation of the revised National Action Plan, which was launched after a national consensus in the political arena. Operation Azm-e-Istekam is a multi-domain, multi-agency and national vision to bring about sustainable peace and stability in the country.[12][13]

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on 28 June 2024 added that Pakistan may carry out cross border strikes inside Afghanistan on terrorist bases enjoying safe havens on Afghan soil.[14][15]

Goals

The Operation is primarily aimed at speeding-up implementation of the Pakistan's National Action Plan (NAP) which was conceived in an aftermath of politico-military consensus in 2014 to combat extremism and terrorism within Pakistan. According to PMO statement, following objectives has been laid down in line with NAP.[16]

The main objective of the operation is to end extremism and terrorism decisively and comprehensively.[2][17] The operation aims to coordinate and coordinate efforts on multiple fronts to counter these threats, while intensifying efforts to curb terrorist activities through regional cooperation in the political and diplomatic arenas.[2]

Timeline

June 2024

22 June

23 June

24 June

  • Balochistan Liberation Army carried out an attack on a military base in Kalat allegedly claiming to have killed twelve soldiers, however official reports acknowledged the deaths of two Frontier Corps soldiers.
  • Three militants were also killed in the attack.[18]

25 June

26 June

27 June

  • On 27 June, in Tank District, military raids on insurgent bases killed ten militants[23] and a military operation in Bagh, Khyber District resulted in the deaths of seven militants and five Pakistani soldiers.[23]
  • The house of Aslam Khan a tribal leader in the Lakki Marwat District was attacked by militants but caused no casualties.[18] Moreover, a police station in Peshawar was attacked by militant rockets causing no casualties.[18]
  • Seven were injured on an attack on Frontier Corps vehicle in Quetta.[18]

28 June

  • Pakistani ambassador to the United States, requested military aid including modern weaponry to aid in Operation Azm-e-Istehkam as well as addressing the need for strengthening of military ties between the two countries for fighting terrorism diplomatic comeback in Kabul.[24][25][26]
  • Rahat Khan, an influential person in Swabi was killed by unknown militants.[18]
  • Thirteen labourers were abducted from Tank District by militants, nine were rescued by a police operation.[18]

29 June

30 June

July 2024

1 July

  • Three people were killed in a roadside bombing in Turbat District, Balochistan.[28] Along with two members of security forces were killed in a rocket attack on their post in Jamrud, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[28]
  • Seven militants were killed in a military operation in Tirah including Pakistani Taliban commanders, Najeeb Abdul Ur Rehman and Ishfaq Muavia and two more militants were killed in a separate engagement in Lakki Marwat.[29][30]
  • A traffic Policeman was killed by militants in Peshawar.[31]
  • A person allegedly a militant was captured during a raid in Awaran District.[31]
  • Three civilians were killed and one injured in an attack in Turbat.[31]

2 July

3 July

4 July

5 July

6 July

7 July

8 July

9 July

10 July

11 July

12 July

13 July

14 July

  • A local journalist was killed by militants in Nowshera District.[31]
  • In Kalat District military carried out an offensive advancing rapidly in multiple areas such as Harboi, Iskalkoo, Chuto, Chashma, Maimonki, Aab-e-Dok, and also in the surroundings of Kalat District.[31]

15 July

  • The Pakistani Taliban launched two coordinated attacks on the military cantonment in Bannu.[66][67][68] A militant attacked the base with a vehicle loaded with explosives while another exploded a suicide vest outside the perimeter of the base. Eight soldiers and ten militants were killed[69] and about 141 people including 7 civilians were wounded in the attacks.[70] At least eight civilians were amongst the injured.[71] Several houses and buildings were damaged.[67] The attack caused significant casualties but was unsuccessful in its main aim to penetrate and capture the garrison.[72]
  • Jaish E Fursaan E Muhammadi, a faction within the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.[66] Military helicopters were dispatched to the region and ground troops were also deployed in the region.[71]
  • A military operation is being conducted in the area by Pakistan Army.[67] The Special Service Group was also deployed in the area.[73]
  • Moreover, two children were killed in North Waziristan in a landmine blast.[31]

16 July

  • Five civilians (two children and two female health operatives) were killed in a militant attack on a health facility in Dera Ismail Khan. The military then engaged the militants, killing three of them. Two soldiers died in the skirmishes.[74][75]
  • Militants attacked a Police checkpoint in Bannu District but the attack was thwarted by a police counterattack.[31]

17 July

18 July

19 July

20 July

21 July

22 July

23 July

24 July

  • In Hoshab, Balochistan, Pakistan Army conducted an intelligence based operation killing one militant while wounding two others. Their weapons and ammunition were also confiscated and a further clearance operation was carried out.[83]
  • A gas pipeline from Sui to Karachi was damaged by Baloch Republican Guards in Kashmore District.[31]
  • A Frontier Corps soldier was killed in Orakzai District during a militant raid on a security post.[31]
  • Two policemen were injured in a militant attack on a security post in Swat District, the militants managed to flee.[31]

25 July

26 July

27 July

28 July

29 July

30 July

31 July

  • An attack on a Balochistan Levies post in Milizai area of Pishin resulted in the deaths of two levies personnel.[89] Another attack on the same post just after eight hours wounded a policeman.[89]
  • Moreover, an attack on Charwazgai check post in Khyber District claimed the lives of two policemen as well as wounding another, a civilian security guard at a nearby gas station was also wounded.[89]
  • A private security was hijacked by militants who stole more than 50 million PKR.[31]
  • Three people including a retired security personnel and his two relatives were killed in North Waziristan by militants.[31]

August

1 August

2 August

3 August

4 August

  • A tribal jirga in Lakki Marwat asked the military to launch a comprehensive campaign to flush out all militants from the territory of the district as the militants were reported to become a serious threat to local security.[93]

5 August

6 August

7 August

8 August

9 August

  • In Tirah, militants attacked three Pakistan Army positions along the border with Afghanistan, a heavy gun battle ensued between the security forces and militants of Hafiz Gul Bahadur group resulting in the confirmed deaths of four soldiers.[b]
  • Pakistan Army (local sources reported six military fatalities) personnel and four militants, about twelve soldiers were also wounded,[97] the militants also claimed to have destroyed an Armoured Personnel Carrier and a military excavator, moreover artillery shells were also launched in the area.[98]
  • In Bannu a police SHO and two other officers were wounded in a militant attack on a police patrol, a civilian was killed and two civilians were wounded.[98]
  • A policeman was also killed by militants in a separate incident in Bannu.[90]

10 August

11 August

  • A dead body was recovered from Tank District.[90]
  • Frontsman of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan survived an assassination attempt.[90]
  • An Oil and Gas Company employee survived an abduction attempt by militants in Lakki Marwat District.[90]
  • Four soldiers including an officer were injured in a militant attack in North Waziristan.[90]
  • The vehicle of a SHO was attacked by militants but caused no casualties.[90]
  • Militants carried out three rockets attacks in Turbat.[90]

12 August

13 August

  • A policeman was killed and another wounded in a grenade attack on a police checkpost in Lower Dir, with police retaliation forcing the militants to flee.[103]
  • Militants also carried out an attack on a check post at Shangla’s tourist destination Yakhtangay but was thwarted by strong police retaliation.[103]
  • A child was killed and 12 wounded, in militant attacks at a hotel and a bridge near Quetta Railways station.[103]
  • A check post in Quetta was also attacked by militants but caused no casualties.[103]
  • Militants also attacked a post in Noshki district, causing no casualties.[103] *In Khyber district, police claimed having repulsed two militant attacks, one on a police post and another near a protest camp by effectively engaging the militants.[103]
  • A tribal elder was killed and another was severely wounded in a militant attack in Bajaur District.[90]
  • Balochistan Liberation Army carried out a bomb blast at Sariab Mill Girls College in Quetta during preparations for independence day celebration.[90]
  • Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh School in Quetta was also targeted with a bomb blast on August 13 in an explosion during preparations for independence day celebration.[90]
  • Militants attacked a post in Panjgur District but no casualties were reported.[90]
  • A bomb blast took place at Bugti Stadium in Kharan District causing no casualties. Six militants and four soldiers were killed in an engagement in South Waziristan.[90] *Two militants involved in the killing of the Panjgur DC were killed in Panjgur District.[90]
  • Two people were killed and three wounded in militant attacks on civilian houses in Quetta.[90]
  • A skirmish took place between Frontier Corps and separatists in Kharan District.[90]
  • A girls’ high school on Munir Mengal Road in Quetta was attacked by militants.[90]

14 August

  • In South Waziristan, a checkpost and a police station were attacked by militants but the militants were repulsed after an intense battle, the checkpost wasn't damaged but a civilian house was hit by a Mortar shell.[103]
  • An alleged separatist was in Kech District during a raid.[90]
  • A bomb blast occurred at a military checkpoint in Nushki District; no casualties were reported.[90] Unknown militants attacked a military camp in Kech District using heavy weaponry causing significant material damage.[90]
  • A singer was detained in Quetta by security forces over allegations of being a separatist. A man was killed by militants in Kech District.[90]
  • Two alleged separatists were detained from Kharan District by security forces.[90]
  • Balochistan Liberation Front attacked seven military posts and a military camp in Awaran District killing six soldiers and wounding eleven more and also two checkpoints and military camp in Kech District killing three soldiers and wounding seven, militant casualties were unclear.[90][c]

15 August

  • A huge police contingent including special operatives and Armoured Personnel Carriers was deployed in Dadu District against heavily armed militants who had previously killed a policeman, police operations were carried out in Mondar, Ismail Ja Bhan, Keti Jatoi and surrounding villages.[104]
  • Seven militants were killed and five others were wounded in an intelligence based military operation carried out in Kurram District, their weapons and ammunition amongst other items were seized and a subsequent clearance operation was launched in the area.[105]
  • A large militant contingent, of around fifty to sixty militants attacked Lakhani police post at the border of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the police launched its own counterattack forcing the militants to retreat.[106]
  • A policeman was wounded in a militant attack in Lower Dir.[90]
  • A pro-government "death squad" member was killed by unknown militants in Balochistan and a civilian was killed by the "death squad" group in Kech District.[90]
  • Baloch Liberation Army attacked a military post in Kalat District wounding three Pakistan Army soldiers.[90]

16 August

17 August

18 August

  • Two soldiers were killed and three were wounded in a militant attack on their convoy in Dera Ismail Khan while a policeman was killed and three others wounded in another militant attack in Lakki Marwat.[110]
  • A Tablighi Jamat affiliated businessman was killed by militants in Bajaur District.[90]
  • A traffic policeman was killed by militants in Bajaur District.[90]
  • Two Police personnel including an SHO were killed in a militant attack in Lakki Marwat.[90]

19 August

20 August

21 August

  • Two factions of Pakistani Taliban clashed over a financial dispute after looting of a cash transporting security vehicle, killing five militants.[114]
  • A tribal elder was killed by militants in Bannu District.[90]
  • Militants attacked a construction company and destroyed equipment in Kech District.[90]

22 August

23 August

  • Three people including a security forces personnel were wounded in a militant attack outside a mosque in Bajaur District.[90]

24 August

25 August

  • 23 civilians[118] were killed after being offloaded from their vehicles and their IDs being checked by Balochistan Liberation Army militants, the reason for twbir killing was described as belonging to the Punjabi ethnic group.[119]
  • Several engagements tool place between law enforcement and militants in Balochistan leading to the deaths of at least twelve militants.[120]
  • Militant attacks in Kalat District lead to eleven deaths including law enforcement.[120]
  • Militants attacked a police station in Pasni, wounding policemen and destroying three vehicles.[120]
  • A police station in Suntsar was ransacked with the militants capturing weaponry.[120]
  • A Balochistan Levies station was attacked in Khadkocha with the personnel being taken captive.[120]
  • Multiple other engagements tool place in Kalat, four Levies personnel, a policeman, two civilians and a tribal leader were amongst those killed.[120] Assistant commissioner of Kalat was wounded and four Levies personnel were wounded.[120]
  • Many engagements occurred at the Quetta-Karachi highway with the traffic being blocked.[120] Levies and police stations in Mastung, Sibi, Panjgur, Mastung, Turbat, Bela, and Quetta were also attacked by militants.[120]
  • A railway track linking Pakistan and Iran was destroyed near Mastung.[120]
  • 6 people were killed by militants in Bolan.[121]
  • The total death toll of the militant attacks in Balochistan was reported to be 26 civilians, 14 law enforcement personnel and 21 militants,[121] later the toll was reported to be 73-74 with only the civilian casualties being revised.[122][123]
  • A Sindhi man was killed by Balochistan Liberation Army.[90]

26 August

  • Balochistan Liberation Army claimed that the attacks on the previous day, names as Operation Fidayeen Herof had killed 120 soldiers and they had briefly captured a military camp in Las Bela, the blockades on high way were lifted. Fidayeen Unit, Majeed Brigade, Special Tactics Operations Unit took part in this "operation".[90][d] However, most Pakistani and international sources state that only 14 Pakistani servicemen were killed.[124]
  • Inter Services Public Relations released a statement about having killed 25 militants including a commander in a campaign in Khyber District since 20 August, meanwhile 4 soldiers were killed.[125]
  • The bullet ridden dead bodies were discovered in Nasirabad District.[90]

27 August

28 August

29 August

30 August

  • As a result of attacks against civilians and servicemen by the Balochistan Liberation Army which left over 70 dead, the Pakistani army ramped up operations and neutralised 5 BLA insurgents.[127]
  • Two alleged separatists were captured by security forces from Kech District.[90]

31 August

  • The Pakistani military intensified IBOs in the Tirah valley, killing 37 insurgents, including their ringleader, Abu Dhar, alias Saddam. The IBOs were carried out by the Special Service Group, and Pakistani casualties were said to be kept to a minimum.[128]
  • Three militants were killed and four soldiers were injured in an operation in South Waziristan.
  • Two bomb disposal unit personnel were wounded in a militant attack in South Waziristan.[90]
  • Two soldiers were wounded in a militant attack on a helipad in Miranshah.[90]

September

1 September

  • A bomb blast in Bajaur led to the death of one person and wounding of two others.[129]
  • Two people were wounded in a bomb blast in Quetta.[129]
  • Two Policemen were injuredin Mianwali during a militant attack.[130]

2 September

  • Three soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary and four private security guards were returned as a result of negotiations with militants.[130]
  • Militants destroyed a government school in Buner and then as a police vehicle reach the area it was targeted in an IED attack but caused no casualties.[130]

3 September

  • A police officer was killed by militants in Quetta. [130]

4 September

6 September

7 September

8 September

9 September

  • An explosion went off targeting a polio vaccination team wounding three healthcare workers, it's responsibility was claimed by ISIS-K.[130]
  • Militants threw a suicide vest when asked to stop at a post in Peshawar.[130]

10 September

  • A bomb blast took place in Wana wounding six policemen and seven civilians but the main target of the explosion, the VC, survived the attack.[136]
  • A suicide vest laden with 7kg explosives was discovered in Peshawar.[136]

11 September

12 September

14 September

  • Counter Terrorism Department conducted 71 operations throughout Punjab capturing nine militants as well as recovering explosives, two grenades, 26 detonators, 73 ft fuse wire, ammunition, guns, mobile phones, and cash.[137]

International reaction

It is widely believed that this anti-terrorist operation was carried out under pressure from China,[138] as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been hit by terrorist attacks many times before.[139] Pakistan announced its new counterterrorism plan soon after Shehbaz Sharif returned from a five-day visit to China.[140]

Although Pakistan urges the US to provide modern small arms,[26] a spokesperson of the US State Department said "We support Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights."[141] Starting from 3 July, the American and Pakistani troops started two-week-long counterterrorism exercises in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[34][35]

Notes

  1. ^ the casualties of other militants are unknown like other BLA and BLF attacks as BLA and BLF don't disclose their casualties
  2. ^ Three on 9 August, and an officer on 11 August from injuries sustained during the combat[96]
  3. ^ Casualties were reported by BLF which did not disclose its own losses
  4. ^ Most Pakistani and international sources reported that 14 soldiers were killed and 21 militants were killed

References

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