Pakistani Forces Kill Eight Militants in Bannu

Pakistani security forces, supported by military helicopters, conducted a raid on a militant hideout in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the deaths of eight militants, including a local commander. The operation is part of a broader crackdown against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has escalated its attacks since the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. Local police reported no immediate casualties among the security forces involved in the operation. Authorities have intensified efforts against the TTP and separatist groups in the volatile southwestern Balochistan province. This military action reflects ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan in combating insurgency in the region. The TTP, while allied with the Afghan Taliban, operates as a distinct entity with its own agenda.