Rawalpindi, May 19, 2026: Security forces have killed 22 India-sponsored terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district during an ongoing intelligence-based operation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.
According to the military’s media wing, the area sanitisation operation has been underway since May 17 in the Shewa general area of North Waziristan, based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of “khwarij.”
ISPR said troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense exchange of fire, 22 militants belonging to what it described as India-sponsored “Fitna al-Khawarij” were killed in the past 24 hours.
The statement added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who were allegedly involved in multiple terrorist activities in the region.
It further stated that evidence indicated the militants had been coercing and intimidating local residents, forcing compliance and using civilians as human shields.
Describing such acts as “deplorable,” ISPR said there could be no justification for endangering civilian lives.
The military said the sanitisation operation is continuing to clear remaining militants, while the area has been fully cordoned off by security forces.
ISPR reiterated that a relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, is being pursued at full pace by security forces and law enforcement agencies to eliminate what it termed foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
The statement comes amid a broader resurgence of militancy in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since 2021.
Officials have repeatedly urged the Afghan interim authorities to prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups, particularly the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), for cross-border attacks.
Security operations have intensified in recent months. Earlier incidents include the martyrdom of five soldiers, including a major-ranked officer, during an operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district, followed by retaliatory actions in which multiple militants were killed or apprehended.
In separate operations earlier this month, security forces also eliminated terrorists in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts, while additional militants were neutralized along the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan in early April.
