21 Terrorists Killed in North Waziristan Operations, Says ISPR

Pakistan’s security forces have killed 21 terrorists during ongoing intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan over the past 72 hours, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. The latest operation was reported on Saturday and focused on Miranshah and nearby areas, where authorities say militant networks have remained active.

The military’s media wing said security forces engaged multiple terrorist positions after intelligence indicated the presence of armed militants in the area. The operation comes amid a broader counterterrorism push in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in districts close to the Afghan border where attacks and armed movement have increased in recent months.

According to the ISPR, the latest action resulted in the killing of 21 more members of the group officially described by the state as Fitna-al-Khawarij. The state uses this term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and affiliated militant elements, which have been blamed for repeated attacks on security personnel, civilians and local leadership in the region.

The military said four militant ring leaders were among those killed, identifying them as Khalid Raza alias Salar, Muftoon, Musa and Imran alias Ayan. Officials described them as wanted figures allegedly involved in multiple terrorist activities, including attacks that targeted security forces as well as ordinary civilians.

The latest figures raise the total number of terrorists killed in the continuing North Waziristan operations to 48, following an earlier phase in which 27 militants were reported killed over another 72-hour period. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the operations, according to the military statement.

North Waziristan has long remained one of Pakistan’s most sensitive security zones because of its terrain, proximity to the border and history of militant activity. Miranshah, in particular, has repeatedly featured in counterterrorism operations, security restrictions and search actions aimed at preventing militant regrouping.

Earlier this month, the local administration imposed Section 144 in the Miranshah subdivision, restricting movement and traffic amid security concerns. The measure was viewed as a sign that authorities were preparing for intensified operations while attempting to reduce the risk of retaliatory attacks in populated areas.

The latest operation also comes against the backdrop of a worsening security environment in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Independent security monitors have warned that militant violence rose sharply in May after two months of relative improvement, increasing pressure on the government and armed forces to maintain sustained counterterrorism activity.

For Pakistan, the immediate impact is both security-related and political. Continued operations may disrupt militant networks in the short term, but stability in North Waziristan will depend on whether the remaining fighters are cleared, local communities are protected and cross-border militant movement is effectively contained.

Security forces have said sanitisation operations will continue until remaining terrorists are eliminated from the area. The coming days will show whether the latest gains weaken militant capacity in North Waziristan or whether authorities face further attempts at retaliation in nearby districts.