Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces have killed 22 terrorists belonging to &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij&quot; during an intelligence-based operation in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Tuesday.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on Nov. 24 in Bannu district after credible reports of the presence of &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij,&quot;&nbsp;Indian-backed terrorists linked to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Security forces engaged the hideout, and following an intense exchange of fire, 22 terrorists were eliminated. A sanitization operation was carried out to ensure no other terrorists remained in the area. The ISPR reaffirmed that the country&rsquo;s counterterrorism drive under &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; a counter-insurgency operation approved by the Federal Apex Committee for the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace until the threat of foreign-sponsored terrorism is completely eradicated. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari paid glowing tribute to the security forces for the successful action. In a statement issued by Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President lauded the &ldquo;timely and effective response&rdquo; of the troops, noting that eliminating Indian-sponsored terrorists remains a top priority of the state. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for the swift and decisive action. In a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, he praised the elimination of the terrorists. He said that under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces are achieving significant successes in the fight against terrorism. The prime minister stated that the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces in this struggle and reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s resolve to stamp out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Security forces say operations will continue to ensure lasting peace and stability across the country.

Security

The Pakistan military's media wing says that the operation in the country's north-western province was conducted after credible reports of the presence of Indian-backed terrorists linked to the group.

Pakistan security forces kill 22 Indian-backed terrorists: military

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight terrorists during a joint intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Bannu district, the military said on Saturday.&nbsp;According to <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">Pakistan military&#39;s media wing,&nbsp;the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on Nov. 21 after reports about the presence of terrorists in the area.&nbsp;Security forces and law enforcement agencies jointly carried out the raid and &ldquo;effectively engaged&rdquo; the suspects, leading to an intense exchange of fire.&nbsp;The ISPR said eight terrorists linked to the group, referred to by Islamabad as &quot;Fitna Al Khwarij,&quot; were killed in the encounter. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.The terrorists were involved in attacks on security forces, law enforcement agencies, and targeted killings of civilians, it said.&nbsp;The statement added that operations in the region have been stepped up under an intelligence-driven campaign aimed at weakening terrorist mobility and dismantling their support networks. A sanitization operation was under way to clear the area of any remaining terrorists, ISPR said, adding that counterterrorism efforts under the &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam&rdquo; framework would continue to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

ISPR says weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.

Eight terrorists killed in operation in northwest Pakistan: military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces killed six militants affiliated with the group known as &ldquo;Fitna-e-Hindustan&rdquo; during a counterterrorism operation in Dalbandin, Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday.&nbsp;According to the sources, the operation successfully dismantled a militant network believed to be operating with external support. The group, referred to by Islamabad as Fitna-e-Hindustan, linked to India-sponsored militants operating in parts of Balochistan.&nbsp;The intelligence-led operation was part of ongoing efforts by security forces to eliminate terrorist elements and maintain peace and stability in the province, the sources said.&nbsp;The militants were reportedly hiding in a mountain cave in the Dalbandin region. Security personnel kept the location under aerial surveillance before carrying out a precise strike once confirmation of the targets was obtained.&nbsp;&ldquo;All six militants were neutralized in the engagement,&rdquo; a senior security official said, adding that the operation reflected effective coordination and intelligence-sharing among Pakistan&rsquo;s security and intelligence agencies.&nbsp;The official added that counterterrorism operations will continue across Balochistan until &ldquo;the complete elimination of all terrorist elements from the province.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to Pakistan TV Digital estimates, more than 880 militants have been killed in various intelligence-based operations across the country between January and September 2025.&nbsp;Earlier this week, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, while addressing participants of the 17th National Workshop Balochistan at General Headquarters (GHQ), reaffirmed the state&rsquo;s resolve to pursue terrorists &ldquo;until peace is fully restored.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;While Pakistan seeks regional peace and stability, any violation of its territorial integrity, direct or indirect, will be met with a firm and decisive response to safeguard the lives and well-being of our citizens,&rdquo; Field Marshal Munir said.&nbsp;Officials said the latest operation in Dalbandin underscores the security forces&rsquo; determination to maintain internal stability and counter external threats aimed at undermining Pakistan&rsquo;s peace and sovereignty.

Pakistan’s security forces killed six militants linked to Fitna-e-Hindustan during a targeted operation in Balochistan’s Dalbandin area. The operation, described as a major counterterrorism success, comes amid continued efforts to eliminate terrorist networks across the province.

Six militants killed in counterterrorism operation in Balochistan: security sources

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq met counterparts from China, Iran, Russia, and Afghanistan in Moscow on Tuesday, reaffirming regional support for Afghanistan&rsquo;s stability and urging enhanced cooperation on counterterrorism, the Russian Foreign Office announced.&nbsp;The meeting was held under the 7th Moscow Format Consultation on Afghanistan, hosted by Russia and attended by special representatives and senior officials from Iran, India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, according to a joint statement issued after the talks.&nbsp;Ambassador Sadiq led the Pakistani delegation, while Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi represented Kabul, marking the first time the Taliban government formally participated in the Moscow talks.&nbsp;The joint communiqu&eacute; described as &ldquo;unacceptable&rdquo; any attempts by external powers to deploy military infrastructure in Afghanistan, saying such moves were &ldquo;not in the interests of regional peace and stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;All participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state, free from terrorism and foreign interference.&nbsp;Ambassador Sadiq, posting on social media platform X, said the discussions reflected a shared vision for a &ldquo;sovereign and stable Afghanistan that contributes to regional security.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement emphasized the need for stronger bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism efforts, urging Afghanistan to take &ldquo;concrete and urgent measures&rdquo; to eliminate terrorist groups operating within its borders.&nbsp;&ldquo;The parties underscored that terrorism remains a grave threat to the security of Afghanistan, the region, and the wider world,&rdquo; the communiqu&eacute; said.&nbsp;Delegates expressed concern over the continued presence of designated terrorist organizations including the TTP, BLA, ETIM, Jaish-e-Mohammed, ISIL, and Al-Qaeda, and called for greater coordination to neutralize these threats.&nbsp;Participants also highlighted the importance of integrating Afghanistan into regional trade, investment, and connectivity frameworks, expressing interest in joint projects focused on healthcare, agriculture, poverty alleviation, and disaster management.&nbsp;Reaffirming humanitarian solidarity, the statement urged the international community to increase emergency assistance for the Afghan people and to fulfill commitments toward Afghanistan&rsquo;s economic recovery and development, particularly by nations &ldquo;responsible for the country&rsquo;s current predicament.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Regional envoys meeting in Moscow urged joint action against terrorism and pledged continued humanitarian and economic support for Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for regional stability, integration, and the prevention of extremist groups operating from Afghan territory.

Articles tagged with "Counterterrorism"

Pakistan security forces kill 22 Indian-backed terrorists: military

Eight terrorists killed in operation in northwest Pakistan: military

Six militants killed in counterterrorism operation in Balochistan: security sources

Pakistan, regional partners call for stronger counterterrorism, support for Afghanistan