Wana, November 11, 2025: Security forces successfully rescued all students and teachers from Cadet College Wana on Tuesday after a group of terrorists attacked the institution, according to official sources. The clearance operation has now entered its conclusive phase, with forces determined to eliminate the remaining militants.
Security officials said the operation was carried out with extreme caution due to the presence of Afghan Khawarij militants inside the college, prioritizing the safety of approximately 650 individuals, including 525 cadets.
“Operation will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized,” a security source stated. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that at least three people were martyred during the operation. “Terrorists tried to take people hostage inside the cadet college but did not succeed,” he added, noting that the attackers were in contact with handlers in Afghanistan.
Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the attackers, affiliated with an Indian-backed proxy group, Fitna al-Khwarij, targeted the college with a vehicle-borne explosive device, striking the main gate and damaging nearby buildings. Two militants were killed immediately during the initial response, while three others were trapped inside the college.
Security sources said the militants were hiding in a building far from cadet residences, with instructions being relayed from Afghanistan. The attack, aimed at instilling fear among the young generation of erstwhile tribal areas pursuing education, has been condemned as a “blatant act of barbarism.” The military warned that Pakistan reserves the right to respond against terrorists and their leadership present in Afghanistan.
The assault comes days after peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime broke down, although a ceasefire remains in place along the border. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently confirmed that no fourth round of negotiations is planned.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, urged Kabul to rein in militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as a prerequisite for durable peace in the region. “Afghanistan must realise that lasting peace can only be achieved by reining in TTP and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory,” he said, stressing that stability in Afghanistan is vital for regional connectivity, growth, and prosperity.
