At least 15 terrorists were killed in separate operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), including two armed militants who died in a police encounter, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
Read More: Security forces kill 12 terrorists in KP, Balochistan operations
According to an ISPR statement, 13 members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, referred to by authorities as the “Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij,” were eliminated in two operations conducted on January 13 and 14.
In Bannu, security forces engaged a militant hideout, killing eight fighters after an intense exchange of fire. Meanwhile, in Kurram, another intelligence-based operation resulted in the deaths of five terrorists.
🚨#ISPR 13 Terrorists Killed
Rawalpindi, 15 January, 2026On 13-14 January 2026, thirteen khwarij belonging to #India Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, #Pakistan
On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence… pic.twitter.com/4EHmhVowwT
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) January 15, 2026
Separately, two armed militants were killed and a police constable injured during a shootout at the Khutti police check-post in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday night. Police said the clash began when the militants attacked the checkpoint, triggering a fierce firefight.
Despite these operational successes, Pakistan recorded a rise in militant activity in 2025. Terrorist attacks increased by 34 percent, while fatalities linked to terrorism rose 21 percent year-on-year, according to the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry last week highlighted the scale of anti-terror operations, reporting that law enforcement agencies — including the army, police, Federal Constabulary, and intelligence units — conducted 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) nationwide in 2025.
Read More: Two commanders among eight terrorists killed in KP operations
Of these, 14,658 were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in other regions. He also noted that 5,397 terror incidents occurred across Pakistan last year, with 71 percent in KP, 29 percent in Balochistan, and a small fraction in other areas.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to continue operations to neutralize militant threats and restore lasting security in the region.