NK CORRESPONDENT
BANNU: Security forces and law enforcement agencies eliminated at least eight militants linked to what the military described as “Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij” during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ISPR revealed on Saturday.
According to the military’s media wing, the operation was launched on November 21 after intelligence indicated the presence of militants in the area. When troops closed in, an intense exchange of fire erupted.
“During the operation, troops successfully targeted the Khawarij hideout. Eight militants belonging to the Indian-backed network were neutralised,” the ISPR said.
The statement added that weapons and ammunition were seized from the slain individuals, who were allegedly involved in multiple attacks on security forces, law enforcement personnel, and civilians.
The ISPR highlighted that the success of the operation reflected increased coordination between various security and law enforcement institutions. These joint efforts, it said, are part of a broader strategy to disrupt militant movement, dismantle support structures, and prevent reorganising attempts.
“Intelligence-based actions are showing concrete and sustained progress, contributing to improved peace and stability,” the media wing noted. A sanitisation operation is now underway to ensure no remaining militants are hiding in the vicinity.
The operation falls under the ongoing counterterrorism vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, aimed at eliminating foreign-backed terrorism from Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the forces for the operation, saying that coordinated action against India-sponsored networks was essential for national security and must remain a top priority.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces, stating that the country was witnessing significant gains in the fight against terrorism. “Our resolve to uproot terrorism in all its forms remains unwavering,” he said.
Pakistan continues to confront a rise in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. A police report earlier noted that KP alone saw more than 600 terrorist incidents during the first eight months of 2025, resulting in the martyrdom of 79 police officials and 138 civilian deaths.
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