Pakistan’s security forces have killed at least 24 militants during a series of intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.
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According to the military’s media wing, the operations were launched following a recent increase in militant attacks in Bannu, including assaults on law enforcement personnel and a vehicle-borne suicide bombing that targeted security forces and civilians.
The ISPR said the joint intelligence-based operations were carried out to locate and eliminate those responsible for the attacks, as well as dismantle their support networks. It stated that the militants killed during the operations belonged to what it described as “Fitna Al-Khwarij,” which the military referred to as an Indian-backed proxy group.
The statement said intense exchanges of fire took place in Bannu and surrounding areas over the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of 24 militants. Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the operation sites.
According to the military, the slain militants had allegedly been involved in multiple terrorist activities and attacks that claimed the lives of innocent civilians and security personnel.
The ISPR reaffirmed that counterterrorism operations in the region would continue until all perpetrators and their facilitators are brought to justice. It added that the ongoing campaign is being conducted under the national counterterrorism strategy, Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.
Bannu has witnessed a rise in militant violence in recent months, with repeated attacks targeting police stations, security personnel and civilians. Authorities have intensified intelligence-led operations across the district in an effort to disrupt militant networks and restore security.
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The military reiterated its commitment to eliminating terrorism and said security forces, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, would continue operations across affected areas to counter threats posed by armed militant groups and safeguard public safety.