Table of Contents
- KP Operations Overview
- Details of the Bannu Operation
- Kurram District Encounter
- Azm-i-Istehkam and Ongoing Sanitisation
- Broader Security Situation in Pakistan
Security forces kill terrorists in KP as Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign recorded another significant development, with 13 militants neutralised during two intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the military’s media wing.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations were conducted on January 13 and 14 in the districts of Bannu and Kurram, targeting what it described as “Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij,” a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
KP Operations Overview
In a statement issued on Thursday, ISPR confirmed that both operations were intelligence-led and carried out following reports of militant presence in the targeted areas. The actions form part of Pakistan’s ongoing nationwide effort to curb militancy and dismantle terrorist networks operating near sensitive regions.
Source: ‘Online'”
Details of the Bannu Operation
One of the operations was conducted in Bannu district, a region that has frequently witnessed militant activity in recent years. ISPR said security forces effectively engaged the militants’ hideout during the operation.
“After an intense exchange of fire, eight khawarij were sent to hell,” the statement said, indicating that no casualties were reported among security personnel.
Kurram District Encounter
A separate intelligence-based operation was carried out in Kurram district, where security forces again encountered armed militants. According to ISPR, five terrorists were “effectively neutralised” during the ensuing firefight.
The military added that sanitisation operations are ongoing in both areas to ensure the elimination of any remaining threats.
Azm-i-Istehkam and Ongoing Sanitisation
ISPR stressed that these operations are part of the broader counterterrorism framework under the “Azm-i-Istehkam” strategy, approved by the federal apex committee under the National Action Plan. The campaign aims to eliminate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism through coordinated action by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
“The relentless counterterrorism campaign will continue at full pace,” ISPR said, reiterating the state’s commitment to restoring lasting peace.
Broader Security Situation in Pakistan
The latest operations come amid a wider escalation in militant violence across the country. Earlier this week, ISPR reported that four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kalat district.
According to a report by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan experienced a sharp rise in militant activity in 2025, with terrorist attacks increasing by 34 percent and fatalities rising by 21 percent year-on-year.
Addressing a press conference last week, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry revealed that law enforcement agencies conducted 75,175 intelligence-based operations nationwide in 2025. Of these, 14,658 were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in other parts of the country.
He further disclosed that 5,397 terror incidents were recorded during the year, with 71 percent occurring in KP and 29 percent in Balochistan, underscoring the scale of the security challenge faced by Pakistan.
