ISPR says 16 India-backed militants, including two Afghan nationals, were killed in operations across North Waziristan, while two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom.
ISLAMABAD: At least 16 India-backed militants were killed and two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom during multiple intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said Saturday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted a series of counterterrorism operations in Mir Ali, Datta Khel and adjoining areas of North Waziristan as part of their ongoing efforts to eliminate militant networks.
The military said 12 militants, including two Afghan nationals, were killed during an intense exchange of fire in the Ali Khel area over the past 12 hours.
In separate engagements, security forces eliminated four more militants, with two killed in Mir Ali and another two in Datta Khel.
However, two Pakistan Army personnel lost their lives while fighting the militants. The ISPR identified them as Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, a resident of Swabi, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, from Mardan.
The military’s media wing paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying they fought courageously and made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the country.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants killed during the operations. According to the ISPR, the slain individuals were involved in several terrorist activities, including attacks targeting civilians.
The military said sanitisation operations were continuing in the affected areas to locate and eliminate any remaining militants. It reaffirmed that security forces would continue their counterterrorism campaign with full intensity until the threat of what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism was eliminated from the country.
The latest operations come amid continued security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militant violence has remained a major concern.
Pakistan has experienced an increase in militant attacks, particularly in the two provinces, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) identified Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as the country’s major centres of violence during the second quarter of 2026.
According to the report, the two provinces collectively accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related deaths recorded across Pakistan during the period.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 475 deaths, representing more than 61% of the national total, while Balochistan reported 265 fatalities, accounting for 34%.
KP also registered the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, or 57% of the national total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, representing 35%.
The figures underline the continuing security challenges in both provinces as Pakistan pursues counterterrorism operations against militant groups.
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