New Delhi: Eight TTP terrorists were killed and five injured during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday. The operation took place in the Wanda Sheikh Allah area of ​​Lakki Marwat district.

Police said eight terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed and five others injured in the operation.

Blast in Government School Building

In a separate incident, unidentified assailants detonated a bomb at a newly constructed government girls’ primary school in Tank district, bordering South Waziristan, on Friday. Police said the incident occurred in Gara Buddha village of Siyal Gul Korona. Fortunately, the building was empty at the time of the explosion, so no casualties were reported.

Security officials suspect that militants carried out the attack with the intention of disrupting the growth of education and literacy, especially for girls, in the region. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the school bombings. However, various TTP factions operating in Tank District oppose girls’ education and frequently target their schools.

More than 450 schools destroyed in a decade

According to data collected by local NGOs, over 450 schools have been destroyed in such attacks in the province over the past decade, forcing students to either drop out or study in ruined buildings or near ruble.

As of 2019, there have been numerous attacks on girls’ schools in Pakistan, particularly in the Swat Valley and the former tribal areas controlled by the TTP. In 2012, militants attacked Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for girls’ education.

Terrorist activities increase in provinces bordering Afghanistan

Pakistan has recently witnessed an increase in terrorist activities, primarily in the provinces bordering Afghanistan. According to a report published by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Thursday, 298 people have died due to terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far this year.

1,124 terrorists arrested in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The report stated that as of October 22, 117 policemen and 181 civilians were killed in various terrorist incidents across the province, bringing the total death toll to 298, while 486 others were injured. According to the data, 2,366 intelligence-based operations were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in which 1,124 terrorists were arrested and 368 terrorists were killed.

The report stated that 6,181 suspects were charged in various terrorism- cases during the year. Action against extortion gangs has also been intensified. So far this year, 1,287 cases have been registered and 209 suspects have been charged, while 52 others have been arrested during the operations.