Pakistan’s security forces successfully eliminated 20 terrorists in separate operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Monday.
The first intelligence-based operation (IBO) took place in Shawal, North Waziristan, where troops engaged and killed eight terrorists linked to India-backed Fitna al-Khwarij. In a separate operation in Dara Adam Khel, 12 more militants were neutralized during intense firefights.
Following the operations, security forces have launched further sanitization efforts to ensure no terrorists remain in the region.
The ISPR emphasized that these operations are part of the ongoing counterterrorism campaign, “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. The campaign aims to completely eliminate foreign-supported terrorism from Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the armed forces for their professionalism and bravery. President Zardari described the operations’ success as a testament to Pakistan’s unity and resolve, highlighting that Fitna al-Khwarij and their India-backed sponsors threaten the country’s peace and stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the sacrifices of security forces, calling them the nation’s protective wall and reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism entirely.
Pakistan has faced an increase in terror incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. During the first eight months of 2025, over 600 terror incidents in KP alone claimed 138 civilian lives and 79 police personnel.
Cross-border attacks from Afghanistan have intensified tensions, leading to retaliatory strikes in October that killed more than 200 militants while Pakistan lost 23 soldiers. Precision strikes also targeted terrorist strongholds in Kandahar and Kabul, prompting a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
#PakistanSecurityForces #CounterTerrorism #NorthWaziristan #DaraAdamKhel #TerrorismUpdate #PakArmy #NationalSecurity
