PESHAWAR / RAWALPINDI — In a major escalation of the state’s counter-terrorism offensive, security forces eliminated 24 terrorists in two high-intensity engagements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on February 4–5, 2026.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations targeted members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whom the state has officially designated as “Fitna-al-Khawarij” to highlight their ideological deviance.
Operation Brief: Orakzai and Khyber Districts
The intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were part of the ongoing “Azm-e-Istehkam” (Resolve for Stability) vision, aimed at preemptively neutralizing militant cells.
- Orakzai District: In an intense fire exchange, security forces targeted a militant hideout, killing 14 Khwarij. This area has recently seen a resurgence of sleeper cell activity.
- Khyber District: A separate engagement in the rugged terrain of Khyber resulted in the neutralization of 10 more Khwarij.
- Sanitization: Following the kinetic phases, “sanitization operations” were launched to ensure no remnants of the “Indian-sponsored” networks remained in the vicinity.
A Deadly Surge in 2025
The early 2026 successes come on the heels of a grim 2025, which security analysts describe as one of the most violent years in a decade.
2025 Security Statistics (PIPS Report): | Metric | 2025 Total | Year-on-Year Change | | Terrorist Attacks | 699 | ▲ 34% | | Total Fatalities | 1,034 | ▲ 21% | | Security Personnel Killed | 437 | — | | Militants Killed | 243 | — |
Analyst Note: While the military has reported record-high militant deaths in early 2026, the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) warns that the TTP’s “Fitna-al-Khawarij” continues to leverage cross-border sanctuaries to sustain a high tempo of attacks.
Strategic Framing: “Fitna-al-Khawarij”
The government’s use of this term—adopted officially in late 2024—is a deliberate psychological and theological strategy. By labeling the TTP as Khawarij (an early Islamic sect known for rebelling against the community), the state seeks to:
- Erode Religious Legitimacy: Framing them as “heretics” rather than “holy warriors.”
- Highlight External Links: The ISPR consistently pairs the term with “Indian Proxy” to emphasize alleged foreign sponsorship.
🚨#ISPR 24 Terrorists Eliminated
Rawalpindi, 06 February, 2026On 4-5 February 2026, twenty four khwarij belonging to #India Proxy Fitna al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, #Pakistan
On reported presence of khwarij, an… pic.twitter.com/6ApyO1NEB4
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) February 6, 2026
Azm-e-Istehkam in 2026
Unlike the massive “kinetic” operations of the past (like Zarb-e-Azb), Azm-e-Istehkam in 2026 focuses on:
- Intelligence-Driven Strikes: Reducing large-scale population displacement.
- Socio-Economic Projects: Building “School Protection Units” and digital classrooms in North Waziristan.
- Border Management: Intensified focus on stopping cross-border movement from Afghanistan.
With 35 terrorists killed in KP in the first five weeks of 2026 alone, the pace of operations is accelerating.
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