Security forces killed 34 terrorists in a series of high-tempo, intelligence-driven operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the past few days, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
"On 24 February, 26 khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were killed in four separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while eight khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna Al Hindustan were killed in an engagement in Sambaza, Balochistan," Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Fitna al Khawarij is a term used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Fitna al Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist organizations in Balochistan.
"Movement of a group of khwarij, opposite the main area of Hassan Khel, North Waziristan District, who tried to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was intercepted by the security forces. Own troops effectively engaged this group of khwarij.
"As a result of precise and skilful engagement, a kharji belonging to the Indian deputy, Fitna al Khwarij, was sent to hell. It is important to highlight that the slain Kharji has been identified as an Afghan national," said the news release. In another engagement, an intelligence-based operation was conducted in Lakki Marwat district. During the execution of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij site and after an intense exchange of fire, three khwarij were neutralized. At the same time, own troops in two separate engagements in general area Narmi Khel, Bannu district neutralized 10 khwarij, while operating on accurate intelligence, own troops successfully eliminated twelve khwarij in gen area Mir Ali, North Waziristan District. During the fifth engagement, own troops conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Sambaza area, Zhob district. After an intense exchange of fire, eight terrorists belonging to Fitna Al Hindustan were successfully neutralized. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from Indian sponsored slain khwarij and terrorists who remained actively involved in several terrorist activities in the area.
"The security forces remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s borders.
"Clearing operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji found in the area as a relentless campaign against terrorism under vision "Azm and Istehkam" (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) of Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full speed to eradicate the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," said the news release. Security moratorium The Center and the provinces agreed on Wednesday to adopt a unified approach to strengthen stability throughout the country. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry in Islamabad and attended by the Federal Interior Minister, Inspector Generals of all provinces, Interior Secretaries, Chief Commissioner and Islamabad IG. According to officials, the session conducted an in-depth review of the country’s overall law and order situation, the challenges facing the security institutions and the strategy for the coming months. The participants also discussed a coordinated national security plan and agreed to adopt a unified approach to strengthen stability throughout the country. The federal government assured the provinces of special measures to provide essential resources and technical support required to improve security capabilities at the regional level.
"Our foremost responsibility is to secure citizens’ lives and property," Talal Chaudhry said and praised the performance of Pakistani security forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism. Pakistan has stepped up security and arrested dozens of suspects as it fears a rising wave of terrorist attacks following its raids inside Afghanistan, Talal said.
"Our forces are on high alert to fight any attack," the minister, Talal, told Reuters. "You know the terrorists always respond when we go after their hideouts in Afghanistan."
The foreign minister said the terrorists’ retaliatory attack proved Islamabad’s case that they had links in Afghanistan, adding that forces had foiled several attacks in recent weeks and arrested a number of suspects, including Afghans. Security forces have stepped up search and intelligence-based operations and "have arrested dozens of suspected terrorists, their handlers and their facilitators," said the minister. Several sources added that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have issued warnings of a possible increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan in the coming days. City centers, markets, security forces and places of worship could be possible targets, according to the alerts, the sources said.
"We have received a strong warning about several terrorist attacks in our official communication. In this regard, we have almost doubled our search operations across Pakistan," an intelligence official said. Another intelligence official added that the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are already under terrorist attacks and "we fear that Afghanistan will also retaliate against Pakistan through terror networks in Punjab and Sindh". Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks increasing every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organization. Data from ACLED shows that attacks in Pakistan have almost quadrupled to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and over the same period TTP attacks have increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118. (With additional input from Reuters)
