PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - In a significant operation, Pakistani security forces targeted a militant hideout in Dera Ismail Khan, a city located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of nine militants. This raid took place near the Afghan border and was reported by the military on Monday.

Among the militants killed during the operation was a high-profile figure known as Shireen, who was reportedly involved in the recent killing of Army Captain Hasnain Akhtar in a shootout within the region last month. The military's statement indicated that all nine individuals were part of the group referred to as “Khwarij,” a term the Pakistani government uses to describe the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban.

The TTP has been active and increasingly emboldened since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. This surge in confidence among the militants has coincided with a rise in violent attacks across Pakistan, many of which have been attributed to the TTP. The group's affiliations with the Taliban in Afghanistan have allowed them to intensify their operations and pose a greater threat to the Pakistani state.

In addition to the recent raid in Dera Ismail Khan, security forces have intensified their operations against militant factions in the region. Just a day prior to this incident, eight militants were killed in the North Waziristan district as they attempted to cross the border into Afghanistan. These operations indicate a concerted effort by Pakistani troops to clamp down on the TTP's activities and disrupt their networks.

The Pakistani military remains engaged in ongoing operations against these militant elements as part of a broader strategy to enhance security and stability in the region. The resurgence of the TTP and the escalating violence come at a critical time when the Pakistani government is seeking to address internal security challenges while facing the implications of the Taliban's governance in neighboring Afghanistan.

The situation remains fluid, with both the military and the militants adapting to ongoing developments. As the Pakistani security forces continue their efforts, the cycle of violence appears likely to persist, underscoring the complexities of the security landscape in Pakistan and its implications for regional stability.