Part 7/14:
Pakistan's border regions—Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—are plagued with insurgent activity, sectarian clashes, and tribal disputes. These provinces are impoverished and neglected, with multiple protests alleging election rigging and political marginalization. Casualties among security personnel soared in 2024, with over 380 soldiers killed—a record high in recent years—highlighting the deadly toll of ongoing conflicts. Insurgent groups such as Baloch separatists and Islamist extremists like ISIS-K have exploited local grievances, often with alleged foreign backing, to stoke unrest and push their separatist agendas.