In a series of focused actions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security forces successfully neutralized 10 militants linked to the India-sponsored group known as Fitna al-Khawarij. The Inter-Services Public Relations shared the details on Thursday, confirming the outcomes of engagements that took place between September 15 and 17.
An intelligence-based operation was launched in North Waziristan after credible reports indicated the presence of militants in the area. Troops engaged the targets effectively during an intense exchange of fire and eliminated six members of the group. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site. In a separate encounter in Hangu district, four additional militants were killed, bringing the total to ten. Officials noted that these individuals had remained active in multiple terrorist activities across the region.
At the same time, tragedy struck when an improvised explosive device hit a security forces convoy on September 17. Six soldiers were martyred in the blast. Their sacrifice has once again highlighted the determination of the armed forces to protect the nation.
Sanitization operations continue in the affected areas to clear any remaining threat. The military emphasized that the broader counter-terrorism effort under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will proceed with full intensity. The campaign aims to uproot foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from Pakistani soil.
Pakistan has faced a noticeable rise in militant activity since 2021, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recent data from the Centre for Research and Security Studies shows that these two provinces accounted for nearly 96 percent of all violence-related fatalities in the second quarter of 2026. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone recorded more than 61 percent of the deaths and the highest number of violent incidents nationwide.
The armed forces remain committed to restoring lasting peace and security. The recent successes demonstrate both the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the heavy cost paid by soldiers who stand on the front lines. Continued vigilance and coordinated action remain essential as the fight against terrorism moves forward with renewed resolve across the affected regions of the country.
