KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA – Pakistan’s security forces have eliminated 15 suspected Fitna-al-Khawarij militants in two intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The actions, carried out in Dera Ismail Khan’s Kulachi area and North Waziristan’s Datta Khel, are part of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, aimed at eradicating foreign-sponsored militancy across the country.
Operation in Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan
The first operation was conducted in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan after intelligence reports indicated the presence of militants. Security forces moved swiftly to engage the hideout, resulting in the elimination of ten militants. Among those killed was Alam Mehsud, identified as a key ringleader of the group and linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
ISPR confirmed that the militants targeted in Kulachi were involved in attacks against both security personnel and civilians, underscoring the threat posed by their continued presence in the region. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, further highlighting the scale of militant preparations.
Azm-e-Istehkam: A Nationwide Counter-Terrorism Drive
Both operations fall under the umbrella of ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, a counter-terrorism initiative approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan. The campaign represents a renewed push by Pakistan’s security institutions to dismantle militant networks, disrupt their logistics, and restore stability in conflict-affected regions.
ISPR reiterated that security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue operations at full pace to wipe out the menace of terrorism. The statement highlighted that militant groups operating under foreign sponsorship remain a key target of the campaign, reflecting Pakistan’s broader concerns about external involvement in domestic militancy.
Recent Operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The elimination of 15 militants in Kulachi and Datta Khel comes just weeks after another major operation on October 24 in Lakki Marwat’s Wanda Sheikh Allah area. That action resulted in the killing of eight Fitna-al-Khawarij militants and injuries to five others. Security officials described the Lakki Marwat operation as executed with “high military precision,” leaving the militants no
