Bannu / Islamabad, November 25,2025: Twenty-two militants allegedly linked to India-backed networks were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by security forces in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted on Monday after security agencies received credible reports about the presence of khawarij , a term the state uses for militants associated with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to as Fitna al Khawarij.
“During the operation, troops effectively engaged the militants’ hideout and, following an intense exchange of fire, 22 khawarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said. A sanitisation operation was underway to clear the area of any remaining threats, it added.
The statement reiterated that the ongoing counter-terrorism drive, led by security forces and law enforcement agencies, would continue at full pace to eliminate “foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism” across the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the successful operation, saying the armed forces were achieving “major successes” under the government’s counter-terrorism vision, Azm-i-Istehkam.
“The entire nation stands with Pakistan’s armed forces in the war against terrorism,” the premier said, reaffirming the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations.”
Pakistan has seen a renewed surge in militant violence, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the TTP called off its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
The latest incident occurred on Monday in Peshawar, where a suicide attack targeting the Federal Constabulary (FC) headquarters left three FC personnel martyred and 12 injured. The attack began when a bomber detonated himself at the entrance, after which security personnel swiftly neutralised his two accomplices before they could enter the facility.
Initial findings reported by state-run APP indicated that all three attackers were Afghan nationals. Officials said the assailants appeared to be aiming for the FC’s weekly assembly near the main gate on Sonehri Masjid Road, where around 400 personnel had gathered.
