Security forces carried out a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat district, eliminating 17 terrorists linked to the Indian proxy group Fitna al-Khawarij, the military’s media wing confirmed on Saturday.
The operation, conducted during the night of September 26–27, targeted the reported presence of militants responsible for deadly attacks against security forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilians. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), troops effectively engaged the hideout, killing all 17 terrorists and recovering a cache of weapons and ammunition.
A sanitisation operation is underway to clear the area of any remaining threats. ISPR reiterated that Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to eradicating Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the professionalism and bravery of the troops, saying their decisive action foiled major threats to national peace and stability. He paid tribute to the soldiers’ sacrifices, declaring: “I salute the brave personnel who ensured these terrorists met a humiliating end.”
The interior minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fully support security agencies in their mission to uproot terrorism. “The people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with our security forces,” Naqvi said, stressing that no terrorist group will be allowed refuge inside Pakistan.
The operation comes amid a surge in cross-border militancy since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. Reports from August alone showed a 74% rise in terror incidents compared to July, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
Regional concerns have also grown. At the UNGA sidelines this week, Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia jointly called on Afghan authorities to take “effective, concrete and verifiable actions” against terrorist organisations operating from Afghan soil, including TTP, BLA, and Al-Qaeda.
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