KARACHI: Pakistani security forces killed four militants in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan’s Spinwam area, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Wednesday.
The operation comes amid a surge in militant violence in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, which Pakistani authorities attribute to cross-border attacks by the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from neighboring Afghanistan.
Officials have also accused the Afghan Taliban administration of facilitating these attacks, a claim Kabul has denied.
Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, told political stakeholders in KP this week that security forces were not planning a full-scale operation against the TTP but would continue targeted intelligence-based actions to counter the banned militant faction.
“On night 14/15 January 2025, Security Forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area Spinwam, North Waziristan District on reported presence of khwarij [TTP militants],” the ISPR said in a statement.
“During conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij’s location, and after intense exchange of fire, four khwarij were sent to hell,” it added.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants, who the ISPR said had been actively involved in numerous violent attacks on security forces and targeted killings of civilians.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for their efforts.
“The nation is proud of the fearless youth in our security forces,” Sharif said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. “We remain determined to thwart the evil designs of the enemies of humanity and will continue to work toward eradicating terrorism from the country.”
The ISPR emphasized the operation underscored Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating militancy, adding security forces were determined to “wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”
