ISLAMABAD (AP) 鈥� Pakistani security forces acting on intelligence in the country鈥檚 northwest and southwest, killing 49 militants, the military said Friday, as authorities intensify operations against insurgents amid a surge in militant violence.
Twelve militants were killed in separate operations this week in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, the military said in a statement. Another 37 were killed in operations in southwestern Balochistan province.
The military described those killed as members of 鈥� ” and 鈥淔itna al-Hindustan,鈥� terms the government uses for the outlawed Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatist groups, respectively.
Pakistan has accused both the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch separatists of operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan and receiving support from India. Both Afghanistan and India deny the allegations.
The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, is a separate group but is closely allied with Afghanistan鈥檚 Taliban. Pakistan has seen a surge in violence, much of it blamed on TTP and Baloch separatist groups.
Balochistan, , has long been the site of an insurgency by ethnic Baloch groups seeking greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan鈥檚 central government. The province, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, has also seen attacks by the TTP and the Islamic State group.
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