Security forces gunned down 13 India-backed terrorists during two separate intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, read a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.
According to the military’s media wing, two intelligence-based operations were carried out in the Khyber District’s Bara area and Bannu on the reported presence of the terrorists.
During the conduct of operation in general area Bara, the ISPR said, security forces “effectively engaged khwarijs’ location and after an intense fire exchange, 10 khwarij were [killed]”.
Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in Bannu District, wherein three terrorists were effectively neutralised.
“Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area,” the ISPR said, adding that the relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
Since the Afghan Taliban grabbed power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.
Amid the rising terror incidents, Pakistan launched “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq”, during which around 684 Afghan Taliban operatives and affiliated militants were killed.
More than 900 Afghan Taliban operatives have also been injured, while Pakistan has destroyed 252 checkposts, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed today.
The two countries, back in October 2025, were also engaged in border clashes after the Afghan Taliban and militants launched unprovoked attacks against Pakistan’s border posts.
The resulting clashes led to the killing of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred defending the motherland.
However, despite many rounds of talks, both countries failed to reach an agreement due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to take action against terrorist outfits.
