22 Terrorists Killed in North Waziristan Security Operation
Security forces killed 22 militants during an ongoing area sanitisation operation in North Waziristan, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Tuesday. The operation is being conducted in the Shewa area of the district after intelligence reports indicated the presence of armed militants in the region.
The military’s media wing said the operation had been under way since May 17 and intensified over the last 24 hours. During the action, security personnel located the militants and engaged them in a fierce exchange of fire, resulting in the deaths of 22 fighters linked by the military to the group it describes as Fitna-al-Khwarij.
Officials said weapons and ammunition were recovered from those killed during the operation. According to the ISPR account, the militants had been involved in several terrorist activities in the area and were using difficult terrain and local pressure networks to avoid capture.
The statement also alleged that the militants had intimidated residents and forced sections of the local population to help them obtain safe passage. The military described the reported use of civilians as human shields as a condemnable tactic that placed innocent lives at risk and reflected the continuing threat posed by armed groups operating near the border belt.
The operation remains in progress, and the area has been cordoned off by security forces. Officials indicated that further search and clearance activity would continue until remaining hideouts are eliminated and the area is secured against renewed militant movement.
North Waziristan has long remained one of Pakistan’s most sensitive security regions because of its rugged geography, proximity to the Afghan border and history of militant networks using remote areas for shelter. Over the years, security operations have significantly reduced organised militant control, but sporadic attacks and regrouping attempts have continued to challenge law enforcement and military units.
The latest action comes under Pakistan’s wider counterterrorism framework linked to Azm-e-Istehkam, a campaign approved through the federal apex committee under the National Action Plan. Authorities have repeatedly said the strategy aims to dismantle foreign-backed and locally supported militant networks through intelligence-based operations, law enforcement coordination and sustained pressure in high-risk districts.
The development is likely to be closely watched because militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained a major national security concern. Attacks on police, security personnel and local elders have raised pressure on the state to prevent militants from re-establishing influence in tribal and settled areas.
The next phase of the operation will determine whether the Shewa area has been fully cleared and whether any additional arrests, recoveries or clashes are reported. Security officials are expected to maintain heightened surveillance in North Waziristan as Pakistan continues efforts to prevent militant networks from threatening civilians, state institutions and border security.