Pakistani forces step up raids near the Afghan border, killing 23 militants

Pakistan's military says troops have raided two Pakistani Taliban hideouts in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border, triggering intense shootouts that left 23 militants dead. The raids were conducted on Wednesday in Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In a statement, the military identified the slain fighters as “Khawarij,” a term authorities use for militants they allege are backed by Afghanistan and India, including members of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. Many TTP leaders and fighters are believed to operate from sanctuaries across the Afghan border, straining relations between Islamabad and Kabul.