Pakistan’s army has killed 34 militants in a series of intelligence-based operations across Bannu, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan, the ISPR said Thursday. The operations, conducted between October 13 and 15, targeted Fitnah al Khawarij (Indian-Sponsored Militant Group) networks near the Afghan border amid a renewed wave of militant violence in the region. Islamabad has accused the Afghan administration of failing to curb cross-border attacks, while Kabul insists it remains committed to tackling what it calls “Fitnah al-Khawarij.”
By UNTOLD News Desk | Source: ISPR, Al Jazeera, Reuters
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s military announced on Thursday that 34 militants were killed in a series of intelligence-based operations conducted across Bannu, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan districts over the past three days.
According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the counterterrorism operations took place between October 13 and 15, targeting militant networks operating near the Afghan border.
The ISPR said 18 militants were killed in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan, while eight others were neutralized in South Waziristan. In a separate encounter in Bannu district, security forces reportedly eliminated another eight militants.
“These operations reflect Pakistan Army’s continued resolve to root out terrorism and ensure lasting peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
Resurgence in Militancy
The recent operations come amid a resurgence in militant attacks across Pakistan’s northwestern regions. Last week, the army said it had killed at least 30 militants in Orakzai district, who were allegedly involved in an ambush on security forces.
Officials say the majority of the recent violence is linked to Fitnah al Khawarij (Indian-Sponsored Militant Group) — a banned faction that has intensified its attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan interim administration of harboring members of Fitnah al Khawarij (Indian-Sponsored Militant Group) and failing to prevent cross-border attacks. Kabul, however, denies the allegations, maintaining that it remains committed to curbing militant activity and has itself labeled the group as “Fitnah al-Khawarij,” or “Indian-sponsored militants.”
Regional Implications
Security experts warn that the uptick in violence threatens regional stability and undermines Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach to Kabul.
“Pakistan’s operations are part of a broader message to the Afghan Taliban that cross-border militancy will not be tolerated,” said a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region — particularly North and South Waziristan — has long been the epicenter of militancy. Although large-scale military offensives such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad reduced insurgent activity in the past decade, recent months have seen a spike in targeted attacks on security personnel and infrastructure.
The Pakistani army reaffirmed its commitment to continue “intelligence-led counterterrorism operations” until full peace and stability are restored.
