Pakistani security forces killed five militants and injured two others during an intelligence-based operation targeting Fitna al-Khawarij hideouts in North Waziristan. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the troops as a surge in militant violence continues to affect Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Afghan border.
Security forces carried out a targeted strike against militant positions in North Waziristan and surrounding areas after maintaining continuous surveillance on their movements, according to security sources cited by state media. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan confirmed that five members of Fitna al-Khawarij were killed and two others sustained injuries during the intelligence-based operation.
President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Praise Security Forces
Top government leaders lauded the military’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts following the North Waziristan engagement. President Asif Ali Zardari commended the troops for their professional capabilities and swift response, stating that operations of this kind help stop militants from achieving their aims.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed gratitude to the armed forces, maintaining that operations against Fitna al-Khawarij will continue until the complete elimination of terrorism. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the personnel involved as brave sons of the soil, stating that the nation takes pride in their bravery and expertise. Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan paid tribute to the security forces for the successful intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan.
Escalating Border Violence and Recent Operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The North Waziristan operation unfolded as militant violence intensified along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has carried out multiple attacks since a ceasefire agreement collapsed in November 2022.
- Seven militants belonging to the same group were killed in North Waziristan district during an operation on October 2, The Times of India reported.
- Security forces killed three militants in an intelligence-based operation in Mir Ali on September 30.
- An operation in the Bara area accounted for another five militant deaths shortly prior.
- A suicide bombing at a roadside police checkpoint in Dera Ismail Khan’s Darazinda tehsil on September 26 killed 12 people and injured 35 others, with the TTP claiming responsibility.
- A major explosion at the old Police Lines mosque in Kohat on September 18 claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 people during Friday prayers, leading to an overnight clearance operation that left eight terrorists dead.
Statistical Rise in Regional Security Incidents
Independent research data details the severity of the security climate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to figures from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the province recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, marking an increase of 50 percent.
Longer-term figures compiled by the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies show that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded around 638 violence-related deaths during the third quarter of 2025—nearly 71 percent of the national total—along with 221 violent incidents. On a national scale, Pakistan recorded 1,232 rebel group attacks during the first nine months of 2026, pushing the frequency of attacks in September to a 12-year high.