10 Terrorists Killed as KP Security Forces Repel Attacks
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s security forces killed 10 terrorists in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Friday, marking another major counterterrorism development amid an intensified security campaign in the province.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the first encounter took place after militants attempted to attack security forces’ checkposts in the Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan. Troops responded to the assault and repelled the attack, killing eight terrorists during the exchange of fire.
A second engagement was reported in Dir district, where security forces killed two more terrorists during a separate operation. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were allegedly linked to multiple terrorist activities in the region.
The military identified the militants as belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khwarij, a term used by the state for terrorists associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The statement said sanitisation operations were continuing in the affected areas to ensure that no remaining militants were present.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for the successful action and praised their professionalism in foiling the attempted attack in Azam Warsak. He said the nation valued the sacrifices of security personnel and remained united behind law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the forces for the operations, saying the government and the public stood firmly with security institutions. He said militant networks operating under foreign patronage would be confronted with full resolve and that terrorism would not be allowed to undermine national stability.
The latest operations come at a time when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist violence, particularly attacks targeting police, military personnel and security installations. Officials have repeatedly linked the escalation to cross-border militant sanctuaries and organised networks attempting to destabilise Pakistan’s western regions.
Recent security assessments have warned that July was one of the deadliest months of the year, with a high number of casualties among security personnel and civilians. The spike has increased pressure on federal and provincial authorities to strengthen intelligence coordination, secure vulnerable districts and prevent militant groups from regrouping.
For residents of conflict-hit areas, the immediate impact is both security-related and economic, as recurring militant activity disrupts mobility, public services and local livelihoods. Continued operations may help reduce immediate threats, but lasting stability will depend on sustained intelligence work, border management, local policing and political confidence-building.
The next phase will focus on the outcome of sanitisation efforts in South Waziristan and Dir, along with follow-up intelligence operations against facilitators and remaining militant cells. Security officials are expected to keep pressure on militant networks as Pakistan confronts a renewed wave of terrorism in its northwestern belt.