Security forces killed 34 terrorists in a series of high-tempo, intelligence-driven operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the last few days, the military's media wing said on Wednesday.
"On February 24, 26 khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were killed in four separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, whereas eight khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna Al Hindustan were killed in an engagement in Sambaza, Balochistan," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while Fitna al Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist organisations in Balochistan.
"Movement of a group of khwarij, opposite general area Hassan Khel, North Waziristan District, who were trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces. Own troops effectively engaged this group of khwarij.
"As a result of precise and skillful engagement, one kharji belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij was sent to hell. It is significant to highlight that killed kharji has been identified as an Afghan national," the news release said.
In another engagement, an intelligence-based operation was conducted in Lakki Marwat District. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, three khwarij were successfully neutralised.
Simultaneously, in two separate engagements in general area Narmi Khel, Bannu district, own troops effectively neutralized 10 khwarij, while operating on precise intelligence, own troops successfully eliminated twelve khwarij in gen area Mir Ali, North Waziristan District.
During the fifth engagement, own troops conducted an intelligence based operation in general area Sambaza, Zhob District. After an intense fire exchange, eight terrorists belonging to Fitna Al Hindustan were successfully neutralized.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from Indian sponsored killed khwarij and terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
"The security forces remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation's frontiers.
"Sanitization operation are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," the news release said.
Security huddle
The Centre and the provinces on Wednesday agreed on adopting a unified approach to strengthen stability across the country.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry in Islamabad and attended by the federal interior secretary, inspectors general of all provinces, home secretaries, chief commissioner and the Islamabad IG.
According to officials, the session conducted an in-depth review of the country's overall law-and-order situation, the challenges faced by security institutions and the strategy for the coming months.
Participants also discussed a coordinated national security plan and agreed on adopting a unified approach to strengthen stability across the country.
The federal government assured the provinces of special measures to provide essential resources and technical support required to improve security capacity at regional levels.
"Our foremost responsibility is to safeguard the lives and property of citizens," Talal Chaudhry said, praising the performance of Pakistan's security forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Pakistan has boosted security and arrested dozens of suspects as it fears rising wave of terrorist attacks following its raids inside Afghanistan, Talal said.
"Our forces are on high-alert to combat any attacks," the minister, Talal, told Reuters. "You know the terrorists always react whenever we go after their hideouts in Afghanistan."
The minister of state said the retaliatory attacks by terrorists proved Islamabad's case that they had linkages in Afghanistan, adding that the forces had averted several attacks in recent weeks and arrested a number of suspects, including Afghans.
Security forces have accelerated search and intelligence-based operations and "have arrested dozens of suspected terrorists, their handlers and their facilitators," the minister said.
Multiple sources added that Pakistan's intelligence agencies have issued alerts for a possible surge in terror attacks in Pakistan in coming days.
Urban centres, markets, security forces and places of worship could be possible targets, according to the alerts, the sources said.
"We have been given a strong caution about more terror attacks in our official communications. In this regard, we have almost doubled our search operations across Pakistan," said an intelligence official.
Another intelligence official added the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are already under terror attacks and "we fear that Afghanistan will retaliate against Pakistan through terror networks in Punjab and Sindh as well".
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organization. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022 and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than seven-fold to 838 from 118.
(With additional input from Reuters)
