In a significant counter-terrorism success, Pakistani security forces neutralized four terrorists sponsored by India during a carefully planned intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Monday that the operation took place on February 23 after credible intelligence indicated the presence of militants affiliated with the Indian proxy group Fitna al Khwarij in the area.
The military’s media wing detailed that the security personnel swiftly moved to engage the terrorists at their hideout, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. After a sustained firefight, all four militants were killed, and a cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the site. These terrorists had been actively involved in orchestrating and executing multiple violent attacks in the region, posing a serious threat to local security and stability.
Following the successful elimination of the militants, a comprehensive sanitization operation was launched to ensure no other hostile elements remained in the vicinity. The ISPR emphasized that this operation is part of the ongoing, relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the national vision titled “Azm-e-Istehkam,” which has been endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan. This campaign aims to eradicate all forms of foreign-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan’s soil.
Meanwhile, in a separate intelligence-driven operation conducted earlier today in Balochistan’s Pishin district, security forces killed five terrorists. The ISPR reported that the troops engaged the entire militant group, which was heavily armed, resulting in an intense firefight. During the confrontation, a suicide bomber detonated himself, while the remaining four terrorists, also identified as India-sponsored khwarij, were eliminated. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were seized from the militants, who had been involved in numerous terror activities in the region.
It is important to note that since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a marked increase in cross-border terrorist activities, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which share porous borders with Afghanistan. This surge in militancy has posed significant challenges to Pakistan’s internal security apparatus.
In response to the escalating threat, Pakistan recently launched a series of intelligence-based airstrikes targeting seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al Khwarij, their affiliates, and Daesh-Khorasan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. These strikes were carried out in Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost provinces of Afghanistan, reportedly killing more than 80 militants. This decisive action was taken following a wave of suicide attacks within Pakistan, underscoring the government’s commitment to dismantling terrorist networks operating from across the border.
It is also worth recalling that in October 2025, border clashes erupted between Pakistani forces and militants supported by the Afghan Taliban regime after unprovoked attacks on Pakistani border posts. The ensuing confrontations resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban and allied militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers sacrificed their lives defending the country’s frontiers. Despite multiple rounds of diplomatic talks, efforts to reach a lasting agreement have been hampered by the Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to take meaningful action against terrorist groups operating from their territory.
These recent operations highlight Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to combat terrorism and safeguard its citizens from foreign-sponsored threats. The security forces continue to maintain high alertness and operational readiness to counter any attempts to destabilize the country, reaffirming their commitment to peace and security in the region.
