Pakistani security forces have neutralised 11 militants linked to the Indian-backed group Fitna al-Khawarij in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Saturday.
The operations were conducted on 8 January 2026 in North Waziristan and Kurram districts. According to the ISPR, an intelligence-led operation in North Waziristan led to an intense exchange of fire, resulting in six militants being killed.
In the Kurram district, a joint operation by police and security forces similarly led to the elimination of five militants. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were reportedly involved in multiple acts of terrorism targeting security personnel, law enforcement agencies, and civilians.
“The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm e Istehkam’ will continue at full pace to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country,” the ISPR said, noting that sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining militants in the region.
The announcement comes amid a rise in cross-border militant activity in Pakistan, particularly in provinces bordering Afghanistan, since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have been most affected by these incursions.
ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry recently stated that security forces conducted over 75,000 intelligence-based operations nationwide in 2025, with 14,658 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 58,778 in Balochistan. He further reported that 5,397 terrorism-related incidents occurred last year, resulting in the deaths of 2,597 militants.
Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasised that Afghan militants were involved in all major attacks targeting civilians and soft targets, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by foreign-sponsored groups along Pakistan’s western border.