Pakistan military says 27 Indian-backed terrorists killed in operations near Afghanistan border

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Sunday that security forces killed 27 terrorists during a series of intelligence-based operations over the past 72 hours in the country’s northwestern North Waziristan district, part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan.

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, security forces targeted multiple terrorist locations in the Miran Shah area following intelligence reports.

“Following intense fierce exchanges of fire, in last seventy-two hours, twenty-seven khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij have been sent to hell,” the statement said.

The latest operations come amid Pakistan’s broader counterterrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam, as security forces continue operations against terrorist networks in border regions that Islamabad says have been used to facilitate attacks inside the country.

The military said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead terrorists, who were allegedly involved in multiple terrorist activities and targeted attacks against civilians.

According to ISPR, the operation also brought to justice those responsible for the killing of a prominent tribal leader.

“By neutralizing this group, the heinous act of target killing of prominent figure Shaheed Malik Saifullah Dawar in Miranshah has been avenged and perpetrators have been brought to justice,” the statement said.

Security forces have launched sanitization operations in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorist presence, the military added.

The operation follows a series of recent security actions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in districts bordering Afghanistan, where Pakistani authorities say terrorist groups continue to attempt infiltration and attacks.

Earlier this week, security forces killed four terrorists in separate intelligence-based operations in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts.

Recent security assessments have pointed to a decline in overall terrorist violence inside Pakistan, which officials attribute to sustained military pressure on terrorist networks and infrastructure.

Pakistan officially refers to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” drawing on a historical term associated with violent extremism, to underscore the group’s ideology and attacks against civilians and the state.

“The relentless counterterrorism campaign under vision Azm-e-Istehkam will continue at full pace,” the military said, reaffirming its commitment to eliminating foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.