PESHAWAR: Security forces killed 13 militants in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.
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According to the statement, the operations were carried out on March 30 against militants described as belonging to “Indian proxy Fitna Al Khawarij,” a term used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In the first operation conducted in the Bara area of Khyber District, security forces engaged militant hideouts and killed 10 militants following an intense exchange of fire.
In a separate IBO in Bannu District, three more militants were killed during another encounter.
The ISPR said sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining militants, adding that the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” will continue with full force to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for the successful operations, reaffirming the country’s resolve to eliminate terrorism.
President Zardari said operations would continue to ensure national security and public safety, while PM Shehbaz described the armed forces as a “strong wall” defending the country against militant threats.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a surge in militant violence over the past year. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), fatalities in the province rose sharply from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.
The government has intensified counter-terrorism operations across KP and Balochistan amid a resurgence of militancy, particularly targeting security personnel and law enforcement agencies.
