Security forces eliminated seven terrorists supported by India during an intelligence-driven operation in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday. The operation targeted militant hideouts linked to the Fitna al-Khawarij group, which were destroyed in the process.
Authorities reaffirmed their dedication to eradicating terrorism and achieving lasting peace under the Azm-e-Istehkam initiative. This recent operation follows another successful mission in Balochistan’s Kachhi district, where six militants were killed during an offensive against Fitna al-Hindustan.
In that operation, conducted in the Sani area under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, security forces used quadcopters to precisely target the militants. A significant cache of weapons and ammunition was also seized.
Since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan has experienced a notable surge in cross-border terrorist attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. September 2026 saw the highest monthly number of militant attacks in 12 years, with 225 incidents recorded nationwide, marking a 13% increase from August’s 199 attacks, data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
Pakistan has consistently urged the Afghan Taliban government to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that Kabul has not taken sufficient measures against these groups, a claim the Afghan authorities have disputed.
In response to ongoing security challenges, Pakistan initiated Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, following a ceasefire agreement reached between the two countries in October 2025 after border clashes. Despite several rounds of dialogue, the dispute over militant groups operating from Afghanistan remains unresolved, continuing to strain relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
