Peshawar, August 26, 2025: Security forces killed at least nine militants linked to Fitna al-Khawarij during a three-day joint operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Dir district, officials said Tuesday.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Syed Muhammad Bilal said the clearance drive spanned nearly 20 square kilometres of difficult terrain. “Five bodies have been recovered so far, while the search for others is ongoing. Continuous rain and thick forests are hampering progress,” he noted.
Personnel from the police, CTD, elite force, and rapid response units took part in the offensive, which covered several areas including Hill Top, Dobando Dara, Masala Banda, Shandal Bagh, Itan Dara, Bagh Kale, and Sanger. Two civilians were killed in the clashes, while 10 police and CTD personnel sustained injuries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the operation, calling it proof of the forces’ “professional excellence and commitment to eliminate extremism.” He offered condolences over civilian deaths and directed top medical care for the injured.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the action, saying the elimination of nine militants showed “extraordinary courage and professionalism.”
Pakistan has seen a renewed wave of militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. A recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) documented 78 terrorist attacks in June alone, leaving 100 dead and nearly 190 injured.
Security forces have intensified operations in response. Earlier this month, 47 militants were killed in Balochistan’s Zhob district while attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan.
