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  "path": "/news/1979783/13-terrorists-killed-in-5-intelligence-driven-operations-across-kp-ispr",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-08T08:03:27.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.dawn.com",
  "tags": [
    "Pakistan",
    "__Fitna al Khawarij__",
    "Operation Ghazab Lil Haq",
    "Azm-i-Istehkam",
    "_Annual Security Report 2025_",
    "security personnel",
    "LEAs",
    "February 24",
    "_Fitna-al-Hindustan_",
    "February 23",
    "martyred",
    "unprovoked"
  ],
  "textContent": "Security forces have killed 13 terrorists in five separate operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday.\n\n“On March 6-7, security forces conducted a series of high-tempo intelligence-driven operations, part of relentless counter-terrorism campaign, wherein 13 _khawarij_ belonging to Indian proxy _Fitna Al Khwarij_ were killed in five separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.\n\n__Fitna al Khawarij__ is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).\n\nAccording to ISPR, five terrorists were killed in the Bajaur district after an intense fire exchange when troops “effectively engaged the _khawarij_ location” during an intelligence-based operation (IBO).\n\nIn two other encounters in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts, three terrorists “belonging to Indian proxy _Fitna Al Khawarij_ were successfully neutralised”, the press release said.\n\n“Simultaneously, in two separate engagements in Khyber and South Waziristan districts, own troops effectively neutralised five more _khawarij_ ,” it added.\n\nThe ISPR stated that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the “Indian-sponsored killed _khwarij_ , who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area”.\n\n“It is imperative to highlight that these operations are being conducted concurrently as Pakistan continues to counter emerging challenges along its borders with Afghanistan,” the ISPR noted, as the armed forces carry out ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ against terrorist hideouts.\n\n“The security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers,” the military reaffirmed.\n\nSanitisation operations were being conducted to “eliminate any other Indian-sponsored _Khariji_ found in the area”.\n\nThe ISPR noted that a “relentless counter-terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”.\n\nPresident Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for eliminating the terrorists, state-run APP reported.\n\nThe president lauded the professional capabilities of the security forces manifested during the operations in Bajaur, Bannu, DI Khan, Khyber and South Waziristan, the media wing of President’s Secretariat said in a press release.\n\nPresident Zardari underlined that operations against “Indian-backed _Fitna al Khwarij_ terrorists were significant for securing peace in the country”.\n\n## Terror resurgence and intensified operations\n\nKP has seen a rise in terrorist attacks in the past year.\n\nAccording to the _Annual Security Report 2025_ from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), KP recorded a significant surge in violence last year as “fatalities rose from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025”.\n\nThis marked an “absolute increase of 711 deaths, accounting for over 82 per cent of the net national rise and marking almost a 44pc year-on-year surge in violence in the province”.\n\nDue to a resurgence of militancy, especially in KP and Balochistan where attacks often target security personnel and LEAs, the state has intensified counter-terrorism operations.\n\nOn February 24, 26 terrorists belonging to _Fitna Al Khwarij_ were killed in four separate engagements in KP, while eight terrorists belonging to _Fitna Al Hindustan_ were killed in an operation in Balochistan’s Sambaza.\n\nThe term _Fitna-al-Hindustan_ has been designated by the state for Balochistan-based groups to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.\n\nOn February 23, security forces killed four terrorists in KP’s DI Khan, and five, including a suicide bomber, in Balochistan’s Pishin.\n\nThese operations came after a lieutenant colonel and a sepoy were martyred in a suicide attack during an IBO in Bannu.\n\nThe armed forces are also engaged in ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ along the Pak-Afghan border since the night of February 26, when they responded to “unprovoked” attacks from across the border.\n\nSo far, according to the government, 527 Afghan Taliban personnel have been killed and over 755 have been injured, with 237 Afghan Taliban posts destroyed and 38 captured.",
  "title": "13 terrorists killed in 5 intelligence-driven operations across KP: ISPR"
}