RAWALPINDI — Security forces killed 21 terrorists during a series of intensive intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted over the last 72 hours in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district. The successful counterterrorism sweeps targeted active militant hideouts in Miranshah and its surrounding areas.
Key Highlights
- 21 terrorists from the banned Fitna al-Khawarij network were killed over three days.
- Four high-profile militant ringleaders were among those eliminated in the clashes.
- The latest actions bring the total number of neutralized militants to 48 since last week.
- The operations are being executed under the state’s national security framework, Azm-i-Istehkam.
- Section 144 remains imposed indefinitely across the Miranshah subdivision due to the security situation.
Security forces have gunned down 21 Khawarij in separate operations carried out in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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Targeted Swings and Elimination of Leadership
According to an official statement issued on Saturday by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, the operations involved fierce exchanges of fire. The forces successfully neutralized 21 operatives belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij—the official designation utilized by the state for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
Crucially, the dead include four highly wanted ringleaders: Khalid Raza alias Salar, Muftoon, Musa, and Imran alias Ayan. Military authorities confirmed that these individuals were actively sought for plotting and executing numerous terrorist operations, including direct assaults on security forces and targeted killings of innocent civilians. Large caches of weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the secured sites.
Sustained Campaign Under Azm-i-Istehkam
This latest operational phase builds on a week of intensified counter-militancy efforts, raising the total number of eliminated terrorists in the area to 48 over the past six days. The ISPR stated that the highly precise operations are part of the relentless counterterrorism campaign operating under the vision of “Azm-i-Istehkam,” which was formally approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan to eradicate foreign-sponsored militancy.
Militant Casualties in North Waziristan (June 2026)
• Phase 1 (Early Week): 27 terrorists killed over 72 hours.
• Phase 2 (Past 72 Hours): 21 terrorists killed, including 4 ringleaders.
• Cumulative Total: 48 militants eliminated.
To facilitate these high-pace operations and mitigate the risk of retaliatory attacks, the district administration has enforced Section 144 across the Miranshah subdivision indefinitely, restricting public movement and local traffic. Sanitization operations remain underway to clear any remaining facilitators and holed-up militants from the rugged terrain.
