Rawalpindi, September 21, 2025: Security forces killed seven terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to the military’s media wing, the operation was launched on September 20 following reports about the presence of militants linked to Fitna al Khwarij, an Indian proxy group.
“During the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorist hideout, eliminating seven militants, including three Afghan nationals and two suicide bombers,” the ISPR said, adding that sanitisation of the area was underway to clear remaining threats.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate Indian-sponsored terrorism and called on the interim Afghan government to prevent the use of its soil for terrorist activities.
Pakistan has seen a surge in cross-border attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in KP and Balochistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated that there will be “zero tolerance” for terrorism, stressing that Afghanistan must choose between supporting militants or cooperating with Pakistan.
Islamabad has hosted Afghan refugees for more than four decades. However, following a nationwide crackdown on undocumented foreigners in 2023, over 554,000 Afghans have been repatriated under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan since April 2025, including nearly 145,000 in August alone.
Security sources claim that the masterminds and facilitators of recent attacks are based in Afghanistan with Indian backing. Pakistan shares a 2,500-kilometre porous border with Afghanistan, making it a critical factor in regional security and trade.
Pakistan’s concerns were echoed in a recent United Nations Security Council report, which highlighted operational, logistical, and financial linkages between the Afghan Taliban and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Militant violence has sharply escalated this year. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militant incidents in August surged by 74% compared to July, leaving 194 people dead.
