Son of Afghan deputy governor among terrorists killed in northwest Pakistan: Report

Islamabad, Feb 3 (PTI) – The son of the deputy governor of Afghanistan's Badghis province was among four terrorists eliminated during a counter-terrorism operation in northwest Pakistan last week, according to official reports on Monday.

The operation, carried out in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulted in the death of Badaruddin alias Yousaf, an Afghan national and son of the deputy governor of Badghis province. His death has been cited as "irrefutable evidence" of links between the Afghan government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to as Fitna Al Khawarij, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Evidence of Cross-Border Militancy​

Authorities recovered modern American-made night vision equipment, along with M16A4 and M24 sniper rifles, from the slain terrorists. The report stated that Badaruddin had undergone training at an Afghan Taliban training center before joining the TTP. He was allegedly involved in recent cross-border terrorist attacks targeting Pakistan.

Despite repeated requests from Pakistan, Afghan authorities have reportedly refused to accept Badaruddin's body, reinforcing suspicions of continued ties between the Afghan Taliban leadership and terrorist groups, including Fitna Al Khawarij.

This incident follows a similar case in which Pakistan repatriated the body of another Afghan national involved in militant activities, who was killed during an operation in Balochistan’s Zhob district.

Escalating Terrorist Threat in Pakistan​

Pakistan has seen a surge in terror attacks in recent months, with officials frequently accusing Afghanistan of harboring TTP militants and failing to curb cross-border militancy. Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have become increasingly strained over this issue.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), 2024 was the deadliest year in a decade for Pakistan’s security forces, with 685 personnel killed in a total of 444 terror attacks. Another security research body, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, reported a 42% rise in terrorist attacks across Pakistan in January, highlighting the escalating security crisis.

With growing tensions and deteriorating security conditions, Pakistan continues to face a formidable challenge in tackling cross-border terrorism and maintaining stability.