Security forces have eliminated nine Fitna al-Khwarij terrorists in an intelligence-based operation conducted across multiple locations in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security officials confirmed on Thursday. The operations targeted the Palangzai, Nadeem Kot, and Kot Khazri areas, where several militant hideouts were destroyed and a significant cache of weapons and ammunition was seized.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for their successful operation against the terrorists in North Waziristan. This action follows a series of recent operations in which security personnel killed 18 India-backed militants in various locations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In related developments, security forces targeted militant positions in North Waziristan and adjacent areas, resulting in the deaths of 13 militants. Additionally, an operation against Fitna al-Hindustan militants in Mastung led to the elimination of five insurgents.
Pakistan has experienced a notable surge in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in 2021. September 2026 marked the highest monthly count of militant attacks in 12 years, with 225 incidents recorded nationwide, representing a 13% increase from 199 attacks in August. This rise marks the third consecutive month of escalating militant activity.
Authorities in Islamabad have repeatedly called on Kabul to prevent its territory from being used as a base for militant groups conducting attacks inside Pakistan. However, Pakistan asserts that the Afghan Taliban have not taken sufficient measures against these groups responsible for violence targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians. Despite several rounds of dialogue, the issue of militant groups operating from Afghan soil remains a significant unresolved point of contention between the two governments.
