RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred during a counter-insurgency operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district on Monday, while seven terrorists were killed, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
In a statement, the military’s media wing said the intelligence-based operation (IBO) was carried out in the Kulachi area of DI Khan on the reported presence of terrorists affiliated with Fitna al Khawarij, a term used by the state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, seven khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
The statement added that during the operation, Naik Yasir Khan, 34, a resident of Mardan district, was martyred after fighting bravely. “He fought gallantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” the ISPR said, paying tribute to the soldier’s courage and commitment.
According to the military, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who were involved in multiple terrorist activities in the area. Following the encounter, a sanitisation operation was launched to ensure the area was cleared of any remaining militants.
The ISPR said the operation was part of the ongoing counterterrorism campaign under the national vision “Azm-i-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan. It reiterated that security forces, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, would continue operations to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
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The latest operation comes a day after security forces killed 13 militants in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to an ISPR statement issued on Sunday, the encounters took place between December 12 and 13 in the Mohmand and Bannu districts, where militants belonging to Fitna al Khawarij were targeted and neutralised.
During the battle, Naik Yasir Khan, 34, a resident of Mardan, embraced martyrdom after “having fought gallantly [and] paid the ultimate sacrifice”, the ISPR said.https://t.co/nX5AtTsads
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 15, 2025
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly its southern districts and former tribal areas, has witnessed a resurgence of militant violence in recent years, prompting an increase in intelligence-based operations by security forces.
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, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, highlighted a significant escalation in militant activity and its human cost.
Last month, security forces also eliminated 22 terrorists during a major operation in Bannu district, underscoring the continued security challenges in the region and the sustained focus of counterterrorism efforts.
