Twenty-Two India-Sponsored Militants Killed in Bannu Counterterror IBO: Says ISPR

BANNU — Twenty-two India-sponsored terrorists were eliminated in a major intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Tuesday.

According to the ISPR, the operation was launched on Monday after intelligence reports confirmed the presence of Khawarij linked to what Pakistan identifies as the Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij, referencing militants associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The military’s media wing said security forces effectively engaged the targets, and after an intense exchange of fire, 22 militants were “sent to hell.” A comprehensive sanitization operation remains in progress to secure the surrounding area.

The ISPR reiterated that Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign, conducted jointly by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, will continue with full intensity under a zero-tolerance policy to “eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.”

PM Shehbaz Praises Security Forces

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif commended the successful IBO and lauded the armed forces for their dedication under the government’s Azm-i-Istehkam initiative. He stated that the nation stands united behind the security forces and emphasized the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms.

Upsurge in Terror Attacks

Pakistan has witnessed a renewed surge in terrorist activities, especially across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, since the TTP unilaterally ended its ceasefire with Islamabad in November 2022. The latest incident in this wave of violence occurred in Peshawar on Monday morning when a suicide attack targeted the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters. Three FC personnel were martyred, and 12 others were injured.

The attack began with a suicide bomber detonating himself at the FC headquarters entrance. Security personnel quickly neutralized his two-armed accomplices, preventing what officials described as a potential mass-casualty assault. Investigations by state-run APP confirmed that all three attackers were Afghan nationals, and their target was reportedly the FC’s weekly assembly of nearly 400 personnel near the main gate.