Pakistan’s security forces carried out a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the weekend, eliminating a total of 12 militants, the military’s media wing confirmed.
In North Waziristan’s Razmak area, troops engaged a group of five militants linked to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which the security establishment refers to as Fitna al-Khawarij. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), all five were neutralised during an intense exchange of fire. The operation came at a cost, however, as Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi, 34, embraced martyrdom while bravely leading his men from the front. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, and troops continue clearance operations in the area to root out any remaining threats.
In a separate overnight operation in Nushki, Balochistan, security forces tracked down and destroyed a militant hideout, killing seven insurgents, including a suicide bomber. The ISPR said explosives and ammunition found at the site were safely destroyed in what was described as a prompt and precise action.
Pakistan has long maintained that militant networks such as the TTP and the Baloch Liberation Army receive support from across the border in Afghanistan as well as backing from India, allegations that Kabul and New Delhi have both denied. Security officials say these networks continue to target Pakistani soldiers, law enforcement personnel and civilians, prompting sustained counter-terrorism operations across the country’s western provinces.
The military reiterated its resolve to continue operations until the menace of terrorism is fully eliminated, describing the sacrifices of soldiers like Major Elahi as a testament to the armed forces’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation.