Pakistan’s military announced on Wednesday that it had killed 32 militants in recent operations across the country, amid an increase in attacks targeting security forces in provinces adjoining Afghanistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media arm, reported that security forces had eliminated 32 militants within the past 24 hours. Of those, 24 were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a northwestern province that borders Afghanistan, while the remaining eight were killed in the southwestern province of Balochistan, which also shares a border with Afghanistan.

Both provinces have seen a rise in militant activity in recent months, with Pakistani Taliban insurgents and separatist groups carrying out attacks against government forces. The military has stepped up operations in response to the increased violence, aiming to curb insurgent threats along the border regions.

Security forces continue to face challenges from various militant factions operating in these volatile areas, which have historically been hubs for cross-border militancy. The military’s statement did not specify the exact nature of the operations but emphasized ongoing efforts to stabilize the affected regions.