Wikipedia

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam

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]

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 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
Casualties and losses
Pakistan Unknown as of yet Unknown as of yet
Unknown as of yet

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

Main articles: National Action Plan (Pakistan) and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad

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

Main article: 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

Main article: 2024 Afghanistan-Pakistan skirmishes

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

Counter Terrorism Department conducted a raid in Jamshoro District of Sindh capturing a militant.[18]

23 June

Two Frontier Corps soldiers were killed in a militant attack on security forces in Dir District across the border from Afghanistan.[19] Baloch Liberation Army claimed killing of a soldier in Zamuran tehsil.[18] Counter Terrorism Department also captured 22 militants during various raids throughout Punjab.[18]

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

Military related handles on X released a footage of drone strike on Masjilis-e-Askari Karwan of terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan in the Darga Peerpal area of Bannu District. Reportedly, three terrorists were claimed to be neutralized.[20][21] A policeman was wounded in an attack on a police post in Orakzai District. Two militants were killed and three were wounded in an operation in Sra Derga area of Bannu District.[18] Seven were injured when threw grenades on the security forces vehicles in North Waziristan.[18] Three civilians were wounded in a militant attack near a police patrol.[18] A girls school was torched in Mansehra District by militants.[18]

26 June

Pakistani authorities report the arrests of Commander Nasrullah and Commander Idress in Quetta, who were two key Pakistani Taliban commanders.[22] Moreover, six militants and two Pakistani soldiers were killed in Hassan Khel Tehsil, Peshawar District, during military raids on multiple hideouts.[23] A Counter Terrorism Department and a security forces personnel were killed in two separate attacks in Bannu.[18] A soldier was killed in a militant attack in Kech District.[18]

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

A civilian was killed and his son wounded in a militant attack in Balochistan.[18] Three explosions and gunfire were reported in Kech District near a military base with Balochistan Liberation Front claiming that it was an attack carried out by them.[18]

30 June

On 30 June, the Government of Pakistan began the second phase of the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, this time with the target of expelling around 800,000 illegal migrants.[27] A snooker club was set on fire in Khyber District by militants.[18] A police special operative was killed in North Waziristan, Hafiz Gul Bahadur group claimed responsibility for his killing.[18] A senior doctor attacked previously by militants over twenty five times, was killed by militants in Bajaur District.[18] Militants also set up roadblocks in Dera Ismail Khan District and Bannu District for over an hour.[18] A gas pipeline was damaged in Bolan District suspected to be a militant attack.[18] The son of a local peace committee member was killed in Tank District.[18] Two soldiers were killed in a rocket and grenade attack in Takhta Baig area of Khyber District.[18] A logistical vehicle carrying food for soldiers was targeted by militants.[18]

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

The gas pipeline supplying natural gas to Quetta was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device near Machh, Bolan District.[32] Moreover, three civilians were killed and one wounded in a shootout and bomb blast in Turbat.[33] A soldier was killed and four wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device attack in Kalat District.[31] An officer of the Sui Southern Gas Company was killed in Quetta.[31]

3 July

Pakistan Army and United States Army troops started a two-week-long counterterrorism exercise in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the American troops being deployed at the National Counterterrorism Centre.[34][35] Moreover, an IED bombing in Bajaur District killed senator Hidayat Ullah, who was campaigning in an election run-up, initial death toll was reported to be three[36] but later rose to five.[37][38] Furthermore, two members of security forces were also wounded in terrorist attacks on Polio vaccination teams in Bajaur District.[39] Also, Pakistani security forces carried out an intelligence based operation in Bajaur District and Pakistani Taliban Commander Irfan Ullah after a firefight between security forces and militants.[40][41] Also, a bomb attack and shootout in Kalat, Balochistan killed a Frontier Corps soldier along with a civilian working on the Sui gas field.[42] Islamabad police foiled a terror attack ahead of Muharram by capturing a large amount of weapons and explosives after a firefight with militants who managed to flee.[43][44] Two Policemen were killed and two wounded in an attack on a police station in Kashmore District.[31] A soldier was killed in a militant attack in South Waziristan.[31] Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan announced the launch of a retaliatory Operation Azm-e-Shariat to counter Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.[31] Jamaat-ul-Ahrar announced the launch of their own Operation Al Ra’ad.[31]

4 July

In Khaplu, Gilgit Baltistan another Pakistani Taliban commander Shah Faisal who was responsible for multiple terrorist attacks in the region was killed in a military operation.[45][46] Clashes were eventually extinguished after hours of fighting which left two civilians and four soldiers of Gilgit Baltistan Scouts wounded.[46]

5 July

A roadside bombing in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa killed three people and wounded eight people, including two police officers.[47][48][49] Noor Rehman, the commander of Ghazi group of Pakistani Taliban was killed during an attempted cross border infiltration in North Waziristan.[31]

6 July

A bomb planted by militants was diffused in Bajaur District.[31] A policeman was killed by militants in Peshawar.[31] A soldier was killed and another wounded in a militant attack in Tank District.[31] Another soldier was killed and another wounded in Bolan District during an attack by Balochistan Liberation Army.[31] Four soldier was killed in Awaran District and another in Khuzdar District by Balochistan Liberation Front.[31] A police special operative was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device attack in Quetta.[31]

7 July

A bombing in Bolan, Balochistan carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army wounded a soldier of the Frontier Corps.[50] A shooting in Karachi killed a senior Counter Terrorism Department official engaged against the Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and a civilian passerby,[51] and a private security guard was wounded in the incident and later succumbed to his injuries.[52] Two people allegedly separatists were captured by security forces in Awaran District and Kech District.[31] One soldier was wounded in a militant attack in Orakzai District.[31] The vehicle of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam politician Maulana Abdullah Nadeem was targeted in South Waziristan but he remained unharmed.[31]

8 July

Three people allegedly separatists were captured from Kalat District and one more from Gwadar District.[31]

9 July

A police officer and his three nephews were killed in a shooting in Dera Ismail Khan.[53] In North Waziristan a military engagement between Pakistan Army and Pakistani Taliban led to the deaths of two militants and one army captain.[54][55] Thirteen people were detained in Punjab during an operation conducted by the Punjab police against supposed militant activities before Ashura.[56] Three soldiers were killed and twelve wounded in a gun battle in South Waziristan, casualties of militants are unknown.[57] Three Frontier Corps soldiers were abducted in Tank District.[58] An alleged separatist was captured from Awaran District.[31] Four soldiers were killed and three wounded in a Balochistan Liberation Army attack.[31]

10 July

An attack on Ashura observations was foiled when the Counter Terrorism Department arrested a key Pakistani Taliban militant Mohammad Shoaib in an operation in Karachi.[59] An engagement in Hassan Khel Tehsil of the Peshawar District led to the deaths of four security personnel and three militants including militant commander Abdul Raheem.[60][61] A highly wanted Pakistani Taliban militant Kifayat Ullah was killed in a Counter Terrorism Department operation.[31] Three women were injured in a mortar attack on a policeman's house in North Waziristan.[31] Two people were injured in Balochistan Liberation Army attack on a military supply vehicle.[31] Two relatives of a tribal elder were killed in a militant attack.[31] A Frontier Corps soldier was kidnapped from Tank District.[31]

11 July

Turbat tehsildar was injured in a militant attack in Kech District.[31] Two off-duty Frontier Corps personnel were killed in Bannu District.[31] Two militants stopped an anti-polio vaccination team and snatched their vaccines and motorcycle.[31]

12 July

The bodies of two security personnel who had been missing since 11 July in Tank were discovered.[62] Two Pakistani Taliban militants, Abuzar and Yaqoob Masood, of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group with alleged ties to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were arrested during a raid by the Counter Terrorism Department in Karachi.[63] A policeman and a civilian were killed in a militant attack on a police station in Mardan District.[31] Militants set up a temporary road checkpoint in Tank District.[31] Dead body of a person kidnapped by militants was discovered in South Waziristan.[31]

13 July

A driver of the Frontier Corps was killed in a roadside bombing near Quetta.[64] A Pakistani Taliban militant was arrested in Karachi during a raid by the Counter Terrorism Department.[65] An off duty security personnel was killed in Dera Ismail Khan.[31] An alleged separatist was detained in Gwadar.[31] Two security forces personnel were wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device attack in Quetta.[31]

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

Main article: Bannu Cantonment attack

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

Four alleged separatists were detained from Awaran District by security forces personnel.[31]

18 July

A policeman was killed in South Waziristan by militants while on duty.[31]

19 July

A senior Al Qaeda leader Amin al-Haq who was a close associate of Osama bin Laden and was on the United Nations global list of wanted terrorists was arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department in a raid on his hideout in Sarai Alamgir, Punjab.[76][77] Three people including a policeman were killed in an attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa meanwhile a Frontier Corps soldier was killed in Balochistan.[78] Two civilians were killed in a shootout during a peace rally, this attack is suspected to be a militant attack.[78] A soldier of Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) was killed and seven injured in Kech District in a militant attack.[31] One policeman was killed and two wounded in a militant attack in Mardan District.[31] Balochistan Liberation Front commander Wahid Qambar Baloch was captured by Pakistani Intelligence Agencies.[31] Two civilians were killed and two wounded in a bomb blast in South Waziristan.[31] Militants used an Improvised Explosive Device to target a Counter Terrorism Department vehicle, carrying senior personnel, three personnel and threw civilians were wounded in the blast.[31]

20 July

A person was killed by militants in Kech District.[31] Balochistan Liberation Front attacked an outpost in Panjgur District killing two soldiers and wounding another.[31] An off duty police officer was killed in Kohat District while on vacation.[31] Baloch Liberation Army claimed to have killed an Inter Services Intelligence agent in Turbat.[31] Dead body of a school teacher killed by militants was found in Tank District.[31] Two civilians were killed in a landmine blast in Buner District.[31]

21 July

Three militants tried to infiltrate into Pakistan from Afghanistan by crossing the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Dir District but all three were killed in a subsequent clash with Pakistan Army.[79] A female police officer of the Motorway Police was targeted in Nowshera District but she remained safe.[31] Militants destroyed a girls school in North Waziristan.[31] District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa A Policeman was killed by militants in Peshawar.[31] A retired Army soldier was killed by militants in Mohmand District.[31] One soldier was killed and two wounded in a Balochistan Liberation Front attack on their post in Kech District while two more were killed and another wounded in a separate attack in the same district.[31]

22 July

Militants destroyed a government run girls school in North Waziristan completely razing it's seven classrooms however,no casualties were reported.[80] Moreover, three Policemen were wounded in a bomb blast near their vehicle in Khyber District.[81] A civilian driver was killed and two wounded in militant attacks in Harnai District.[31] A soldier was killed and another was wounded in a Balochistan Liberation Front attack on their convoy.[31]

23 July

A senior teacher was killed by Pakistani Taliban militants in Tirah as a part of Pakistani Taliban's campaign against female education.[82] A Policeman was wounded in an attack on a police station in Peshawar.[31] One soldier was killed and two wounded in a Balochistan Liberation Army attack in Kharan District.[31] A militant commander was killed in as shootout with Counter Terrorism Department in Karachi.[31] Three Pakistani soldiers and one Balochistan Liberation Army commander were killed in skirmishes in Kech District.[31][a]

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

Seventeen surrendered Pakistani Taliban militants initially set free by the government in exchange for their surrender were rearrested in Bannu by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police as a part of a new campaign to spare no militants, their vehicles, weapons and ammunition were seized.[84] A counter terrorism unit of police was attacked in Mohmand District, the clash resulted in the deaths of one policeman and a militant.[31] Two police officers were targeted in Dera Ismail Khan by militants but evaded their attack.[31] Four people allegedly separatists were detained by security forces in Quetta.[31] Security Forces attacked a vehicle in Kech District and detained it's occupants who were allegedly separatists.[31] Balochistan Liberation Front attacked a military camp in Awaran District.[31] Three civilians were killed by Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar in Panjgur District on the allegations of being state collaborators.[31]

26 July

A militant commander named Razaq, a close associate of Hafiz Gul Bahadur was killed by Pakistan Army in North Waziristan.[85]

27 July

Four militants were killed in a military operation in Tank District, their weapons and ammunition was confiscated.[85] A Frontier Constabulary personnel was killed and five wounded in a militant attack on a police station in Kurram District.[86] At least four Pakistani Taliban militants were killed in an Intelligence-based Operation in Tank District.[31] The Counter Terrorism Department captured 38 militants in 449 intelligence-based operations across Punjab.[31]

28 July

A Counter Terrorism Department personnel was killed by militants in Mardan District.[31] Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party politician Zaigham Sultan Tarrar was killed by militants in Hafizabad District.[31] Two people were killed in Mingora by militants.[31]

29 July

Three militants and a policeman were killed in an intelligence based operation in Mohmand District while a wanted militant Satifullah was killed and three militants were wounded in an engagement in Dera Ismail Khan and a militant was killed in an engagement with security forces in North Waziristan.[87] The Counter Terrorism Department captured two wanted militants durian a raid in Pakistan.[31] In a separate incident in Hyderabad, Pakistan, two militants of Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army were captured and their planned attack on Independence Day celebrations was thwarted.[31]

30 July

Two United Nations officials escaped unharmed when Pakistani Taliban attacked their vehicle in Tank District.[88]

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

Traffic Policeman was killed by militants while on his way to duty in Lakki Marwat District.[90]

2 August

Two policemen were killed in a militant attack on their convoy in Tank District while escorting the vehicles of two judges. The judges however remained safe.[91] Balochistan Liberation Front militants destroyed an internet tower in Kech District.[90] Balochistan Liberation Front claimed to have captured a vehicle carrying supplies for the Pakistani military in Kech District.[90]

3 August

Four militants were killed in Mardan District during an operation conducted by armed forces and Counter Terrorism Department.[90][92] A Policeman was injured in a militant attack in Dera Ismail Khan.[90] One soldier was killed and three injured in a Balochistan Liberation Front attack in Kech District while another soldier was killed in a Balochistan Liberation Army attack in Awaran District.[90] Balochistan Liberation Army also claimed destruction of a military vehicle in Kech District.[90] The Counter Terrorism Department captured three militants including an ISIS-K commander.[90]

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

Two people were including a teacher were killed by militants in South Waziristan.[90] The National Counter Terrorism Authority also decided to launch operations against militants as a part of the wider campaign.[90]

6 August

A Frontier Corps soldier was killed and another wounded in a militant attack in South Waziristan District.[90]

7 August

A bomb blast occurred in Peshawar with the target being a special force vehicle of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, no casualties were reported.[90]

8 August

A Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army leader was captured by Counter Terrorism Department while attempting to carry out a bomb blast on a train travelling from Punjab to Sindh, explosives and other such materials were also apprehended.[94] Two militants escaped from the custody of Counter Terrorism Department in Mohmand District after being allegedly tortured and made way to Afghanistan.[95] Militants attacked security company vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan and looted PKR 8 million from it.[90] Two hand grenade explosions were reported at Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University in Quetta during pre-independence day celebrations.[90] A police station was attacked in Nasirabad District by militants, no casualties were reported.[90]

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 [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

Three civilians were injured in a bomb blast targeting a police vehicle in Awaran District, the police vehicle suffered no damages.[99] Two Sindhudesh Liberation Army militants were captured by the Counter Terrorism Department in Larkana and their weapons, explosives and equipment were seized.[100] The Balochistan Liberation Front attacked a military post in the Kharan District.[90] Two Frontier Corps personnel were abducted from South Waziristan and their dead bodies were retrieved the next day.[90] Three alleged militants were captured by security forces from the Kech District.[90]

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

Three Afghan civilians were killed in cross border skirmishes between Afghan Taliban and Pakistan Army, three Pakistani troops were also wounded in the skirmishes.[101] Four Frontier Corps personnel were killed and 27 others were wounded in militant attacks on their posts in South Waziristan, a search operation was launched against the perpetrators.[102] A local tribal elder was killed and another one was wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device attack in Bajaur.[102] Two militants were killed by security forces in Panjgur.[102] A Frontier Corps soldier was killed by militants in Bannu District while off-duty.[90] A surrendered militant was assassinated in Kurram District.[90] The Deputy Commissioner of Panjgur District, Zakir Baloch, was killed and Municipal Committee Chairman, Abdul Malik Baloch was injured in a militant attack on their vehicle.[90]

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] An 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

Five people including two policemen were wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device explosion in Peshawar.[107] Two Shia civilians were wounded in a militant attack on their bus in Dera Ismail Khan, the bus went out of control further injuring three civilians.[108] A police station was attacked by militants in Nasirabad District, no casualties were reported.[90] A military post was attacked by militants in Turbat.[90] Five dead bodies ridden with bullets were recovered from Chagai District.[90] Three militants were killed and another one wounded in a military operation in North Waziristan.[109]

17 August

A suspected separatist was captured by security forces from Kharan District.[90] Three people were wounded in a bomb blast near Balochistan University in Quetta.[90] A civilian was killed and another wounded in a militant attack in Turbat.[90] A militant was killed in an operation carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department in Gujranwala District.[90]

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

Militants of Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Islam started their own patrols questioning the writ of government in Tirah as the police and levies had retreated from the area.[111] Three more militants involved in the assassination of Panjgur DC murder were killed in an operation in Mastung District.[112] A Frontier Corps soldier was killed in a skirmish with Taliban at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Nushki District, meanwhile three Pakistan Army soldiers and five Taliban militants were killed in skirmishes at the border in Bajaur District.[113] Two Police personnel were wounded in a militant attack in Hangu District.[90] A large scale military operation was started in Kalat District, gunships and helicopters were dispatched, artillery strikes were carried out and multiple strikes were reported.[90]

20 August

Security Forces were attacked by militants in Nushki District damaging a military vehicle.[90] Three militants were killed in an operation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department in Dera Ismail Khan, weapons and ammunition were seized.[90] Two civilians were killed in a blast targeting military vehicles in Balochistan.[90] Two militants were killed in a skirmish between militants and military forces in Panjgur District.[90]

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

Bandits of Kutch attacked a police convoy in Rahim Yar Khan killing eleven policemen and wounding seven more.[115] Two children were killed and six people wounded in an attack on a school bus in Attock.[115] Large scale military operations were being carried out in Mastung and Bolan District including both ground offensive and aerial assault by gunships.[90]

24 August

A bomb blast in Pishin by Pakistani Taliban killed three civilians and wounded thirteen people including two policemen.[116]

International reaction

It is widely believed that this anti-terrorist operation was carried out under pressure from China,[117] as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been hit by terrorist attacks many times before.[118] Pakistan announced its new counterterrorism plan soon after Shehbaz Sharif returned from a five-day visit to China.[119]

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."[120] 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

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