Security forces eliminated at least 30 India-backed terrorists during a series of coordinated KP operations this week, marking one of the most significant counterterrorism actions under the ongoing Azm-e-Istehkam campaign.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), multiple intelligence-based operations were launched across Mohmand, Lakki Marwat, Tank, and Kurram districts between November 18 and 19 following confirmed reports of militant activity. The operations reflect Pakistan’s heightened response to resurgent militant networks amid a sharp rise in attacks nationwide.
Multiple Districts Targeted
In Mohmand, an overnight IBO concluded with the killing of four militants after an exchange of fire. Security forces later conducted a similar operation in Lakki Marwat, where two more insurgents were neutralised. Another confrontation in Tank resulted in the elimination of one additional militant.
Major Breakthrough in Kurram
The largest engagement took place in Kurram district, where a targeted mission on November 19 resulted in 12 militants being killed after intense clashes. Acting on follow-up intelligence about a second group operating nearby, security forces conducted another sweep in the same area, eliminating 11 more India-backed terrorists. Troops have since launched extensive sanitisation efforts to clear remaining threats.
Rising Threat Levels
The surge in India-backed terrorists operating from Afghan soil has tested Pakistan’s security landscape, particularly in regions bordering Afghanistan. A police assessment revealed that KP alone recorded more than 600 terrorist incidents in the first eight months of 2025, claiming the lives of 79 police personnel and 138 civilians.
The violence has also expanded geographically, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad on November 11 that killed 12 people and injured 36 others.
Pakistan Presses Kabul for Action
Islamabad continues to urge Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to dismantle safe havens used by the outlawed TTP, which has intensified its cross-border operations. Recent peace discussions mediated by Qatar and Turkiye collapsed, with Pakistan citing “illogical arguments” and an unwillingness by Kabul to address ground realities.
Pakistan’s concerns have been echoed internationally. A report presented to the UN Security Council by Sandra Jensen Landi — chair of the Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee — confirmed that TTP fighters have executed multiple high-profile attacks inside Pakistan from Afghan territory. She described the group as “a serious threat receiving consistent support” from the de facto Afghan authorities.
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A Coordinated National Push
The ISPR emphasized that the latest KP operations align with Pakistan’s broader Azm-e-Istehkam framework, aimed at decisively neutralising militant networks destabilising the region. Security forces vowed to continue targeted missions until all remaining threats are eliminated.
