RAWALPINDI: Security forces have killed 13 terrorists during two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Sunday, as counterterrorism operations continue amid a surge in militant violence.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were carried out between December 12 and 13, 2025, in the districts of Mohmand and Bannu. The slain militants were described as members of Fitna Al Khwarij, a term used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the military alleges is backed by Indian proxies.
The first operation was conducted in Mohmand district following intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the area. “During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij’s location, and after an intense fire exchange, seven khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
In a separate operation in Bannu district, security forces engaged another group of militants, resulting in the killing of six more terrorists. No casualties among security personnel were reported in either operation.
The ISPR said sanitisation operations were ongoing in both areas to ensure that no remaining militants were present. “A relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam,’ as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement added.
You May Also Like: Gaza Force Deployment Expected in Early 2026 as Planning Continues
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly its southern districts and former tribal areas, has witnessed a rise in militant activity in recent years, with security forces frequently conducting intelligence-based operations to counter threats posed by armed groups.
Earlier this year, Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, which reported a 45 per cent increase in deaths from terrorist attacks compared to the previous year. The index, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, highlighted a sharp escalation in violence and identified Pakistan as one of the countries most affected by terrorism globally.
“On 12-13 December 2025, 13 khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,” the ISPR said in a statement.https://t.co/JkKP77QcpN
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 14, 2025
Last month, security forces killed 22 militants during a large-scale operation in Bannu district, underscoring the area’s strategic importance and vulnerability to militant infiltration.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to sustaining counterterrorism efforts in coordination with law enforcement agencies, stressing that operations will continue until militant networks are dismantled and long-term stability is restored in the region.
