ISLAMABAD: Pakistan security forces killed 23 terrorists in two targeted operations near the border with Afghanistan, the army said Thursday, a week after a suicide bombing killed 12 people in Islamabad, reported the AFP.
The terrorists belonged to the Pakistani Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement, accusing India of backing them.
The operations took place in the Kurram district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a flashpoint for cross-border terrorism that has worsened since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Military’s statement
A statement released by Pakistan military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday said, “On 19 November 2025, twenty three khwarij (terrorists) belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khawarij were killed in two separate engagements in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.”
On the reported presence of terrorists, a targeted operation was conducted by the security forces, it said.
During the conduct of the operation, troops engaged the terrorist location and after an intense fire exchange, 12 terrorists were killed, the statement added.
Pakistan uses the term "Fitna Al Khawarij" to refer to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella network of armed terrorist groups.
‘Foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism’
According to the ISPR statement: “Capitalizing on intelligence with respect to presence of another group of terrorists, in same general area, in another intelligence-based operation, own troops successfully neutralized 11 more terrorists.”
The statement further added, “Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision “Azm e Istehkam” (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”
‘Kabul harboring terrorist groups’
Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring terrorist groups, particularly the TTP, that stage deadly attacks in Pakistan, AFP reported.
A suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad killed 12 people and wounded dozens last week, which Pakistan said was planned from Afghanistan.
A faction of the TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated, with cross-border clashes last month prompting the worst fighting in years; the border remains closed.
The South Asian neighbors agreed to a fragile ceasefire but failed to finalize its terms after several rounds of talks, each blaming the other for the impasse, according to AFP.
PM lauds security forces
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by Pakistan Prime Minister's Office (Media Wing) on Thursday: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces’ officers and personnel in Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for successful operations against the terrorists.
The prime minister praised the professional capabilities of the security forces’ officers and personnel for killing the 23 terrorists.
“We will continue the fight against terrorism until the complete eradication of this menace from the country,” said Sharif.
“The entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Armed Forces in the unwavering resolve to protect our beloved homeland,” said the prime minister.
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