ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces killed eight militants in an intelligence-based operation in the restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Friday, vowing to completely eliminate extremist violence from the country.
The operation in the Tank district led to a heavy exchange of fire with militants that Pakistan claims are backed by neighboring India who frequently launch attacks on security forces, law enforcement personnel and civilians. New Delhi denies the claim.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in militant violence in KP, which borders Afghanistan, and struggled against groups like the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella network of various armed groups, which the government calls “khwarij.”
The term is rooted in early Islamic history and used to describe an extremist sect that rebelled against legitimate authority and declared other Muslims to be apostates.
“On 24 October 2025, on reported presence of Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij, Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Tank District,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij locations, and after an intense fire exchange, eight Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell.”
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain militants, it continued, adding that a “sanitization operation” was underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the area.
Last week, the government said Pakistan had killed 30 TTP militants in multiple operations in North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Bannu districts of KP.
Earlier this month, 19 TTP militants and 11 security personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a major of the Pakistan Army, were also killed in an overnight gunbattle in KP’s Orakzai district.
Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing the use of their soil to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, though Kabul denies the allegation.
