Rawalpindi, April 24, 2026: Pakistan’s security forces killed 22 militants during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Friday, as counterterrorism operations continue amid a surge in militant violence.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted on April 21 after credible intelligence regarding the presence of militants in the area. Security forces, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, engaged the suspects in an intense exchange of fire.
“Twenty-two khawarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij were sent to hell,” the statement said, using the term commonly employed by the state for militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The ISPR said militants resorted to indiscriminate firing during the operation, resulting in the martyrdom of a 10-year-old child.
“Due to cowardice and fear of getting apprehended alive, khawarij opened indiscriminate fire,” the statement added, expressing regret over the civilian casualty.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed militants, who, according to the military, were involved in multiple terrorist activities in the region.
A follow-up sanitisation operation is underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the area.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing counterterrorism efforts under the vision of “Azm-i-Istehkam,” vowing to continue operations “at full pace” to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism.
“The sacrifices of innocent civilians further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the successful operation, according to state broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).
President Zardari expressed sorrow over the death of the child, stating that terrorists were attempting to undermine Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional and global peace.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the killing, calling it a “crime against humanity,” and reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country.
The operation comes against the backdrop of rising militant activity across Pakistan. According to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, terrorist attacks increased by 34% in 2025, while related fatalities rose by 21% year-on-year.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been particularly affected. A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies noted that fatalities in the province surged from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.
In response to the resurgence of militancy — especially in KP and Balochistan — the state has intensified intelligence-based operations targeting militant networks.
Last month, security forces killed 13 militants in multiple operations across KP, following a suicide attack in Bannu that resulted in the martyrdom of a lieutenant colonel and a sepoy.
Earlier this year, ISPR Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry revealed that security forces conducted over 75,000 intelligence-based operations in 2025, reflecting the scale of Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign.
As operations continue, authorities face the dual challenge of curbing militancy while preventing civilian casualties in conflict-hit regions.
