At least 20 people, including police officers, were killed in militant attacks across Pakistan’s northwestern region over the past two days, according to a police official on Thursday. The attacks occurred in various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 15 police personnel and four civilians were reported dead. Two police officers were also abducted and remain missing. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for most of the assaults.

Violence has surged in recent months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighboring Balochistan provinces. In response, Pakistan’s security forces launched operations targeting groups described as Indian-backed proxies. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that 34 militants were killed in these operations, including 26 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eight in Balochistan’s Sambaza area. One of the dead was identified as an Afghan national.

ISPR added that further clashes in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and North Waziristan districts resulted in additional militant casualties and recovery of weapons and ammunition.