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ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s military reported killing 13&nbsp;Indian-backed terrorists during multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-15-terrorists-in-balochistan-operation-military" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">intelligence-driven operations</a>&nbsp;in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the casualties following engagements on March 6-7. The operations spanned five districts near the Afghan border as troops targeted Fitna al Khwarij (Indian proxy group). Security forces in the area engaged a militant position in the Bajaur district, resulting in the deaths of five terrorists. The forces killed three more terrorists during two separate encounters in the Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts. Pakistani troops eliminated five additional targets during simultaneous operations in the Khyber and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-military-chief-reviews-western-border-security-amid-afghan-operation" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">South Waziristan</a> districts in the country&rsquo;s northwest. Personnel recovered weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists. The military noted that these individuals had actively participated in regional terrorist activities. Security forces have been conducting these operations concurrently with broader efforts to secure the Afghan border against emerging threats, maintaining a resolute commitment to defending national borders. Clearance operations continue in the region to eliminate any remaining foreign-sponsored elements.&nbsp; The nationwide counter-terrorism campaign operates under the government-approved &quot;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/34-indiansponsored-terrorists-killed-in-counterterror-operations-ispr" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Azm-e-Istehkam</a>&quot; security framework, a counter-insurgency operation launched in June 2024. Law enforcement and security agencies plan to continue operations at full pace to eradicate foreign-supported terrorism from the country.

A Pakistani policeman stands guard at a security checkpoint in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 28, 2026 amid cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (AFP)

Security

The military announced the casualties following two days of intelligence-driven engagements across five districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The operations targeted Indian proxy groups, Fitna al Khwarij.

Pakistan's security forces kill 13 Indian-backed terrorists near Afghan border: Military 

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has increased its police budget by 408% over the last 12 years, prioritizing security spending above all other provincial departments to combat rising security challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to official documents obtained from the Central Police Office (CPO), the total funding provided to the police force over the last decade has reached Rs824.3 billion.&nbsp;This increase is significant considering the uptick in terror attacks in 2025, which was the deadliest year for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in more than a decade. To keep pace with the scale and pace of terrorism, these funds are being used to empower the police force with additional personnel, state-of-the-art equipment, and training.&nbsp;For the current fiscal year (2025-26), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police budget has been set at over Rs157.57 billion, marking a 26.6% increase from the previous year. This growth rate significantly outpaces other sectors, such as health (19.2%) and education (11%).&nbsp;A total of Rs126.27 billion (a 25% increase) is dedicated to personnel salaries. A total of Rs25.57 billion (a 35% increase) has been earmarked for operational costs and equipment.&nbsp;Beyond personnel costs, the provincial government is aggressively enhancing the force&#39;s tactical capabilities. The CPO confirmed that non-salary funds are being utilized to transform the police into a high-tech fighting force.&nbsp;Key procurements and ongoing upgrades include investments in advanced equipment like anti-drone systems, night-vision guns, and armored command vehicles. Twenty bulletproof cars have already been delivered to the force.&nbsp; Over 2,000 Kalashnikov rifles, along with specialized sniper rifles, have been provided to enhance field capacity.&nbsp;The scale of this financial shift is clearer than in fiscal year 2014-15, when the total police budget was a mere 29.9 billion rupees. Over the years, the &quot;Non-Salary&quot; budget, essential for weapons and fuel, has grown from Rs3.61 billion in 2014 to over Rs25 billion today, reflecting a shift toward modernization and upgradation.&nbsp;The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government maintains that these funds are essential to enhancing police capacity and ensuring the province&#39;s safety amid evolving security threats.

The increase, spread over 12 years, is significant considering the uptick in terror attacks in 2025, which was the deadliest year for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in more than a decade.

Articles tagged with "terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa"

Pakistan's security forces kill 13 Indian-backed terrorists near Afghan border: Military

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police budget surges by record 408% to over Rs150 billion