Security forces have killed 13 terrorists in two separate Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.
The military’s media wing said that the operations were carried out on March 30 in Khyber and Bannu districts. It added that the individuals were linked to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khawarij, a term the state uses for militants associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
In the first operation conducted in the Bara area of Khyber district, ISPR said that 10 terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire after security forces engaged a militant hideout following intelligence inputs.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khawarij location and after an intense fire exchange, 10 khawarij were sent to hell,” the statement said.
In a second IBO in Bannu district, security forces killed three more militants, according to ISPR.
It added that sanitisation operations are underway in both areas to clear any remaining presence of militants, as part of what it described as the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under the framework of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee in conjunction with the National Action Plan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif issued separate statements praising the security forces for the operations.
President Zardari said that the operations against militants will continue to ensure national security and the protection of citizens.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the security forces were acting as a “solid wall” against terrorism in the country.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a rise in militant attacks over the past year.
According to the Annual Security Report 2025 by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), fatalities in the province increased from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, reflecting a surge in violence alongside continued activity in Balochistan.
