ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Pakistan said on Tuesday they killed 23 militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two different operations in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province this week.
Pakistan refers to fighters of the TTP, an umbrella group of various armed groups, as “khawarij,” a term rooted in Islamic history that is used for an extremist sect that rebelled against authority and declared other Muslims to be apostates.
The military also alleges that the Indian government arms and funds the TTP and separatist militant outfits in Balochistan, though New Delhi denies the claim.
“On 16-17 November 2025, twenty three khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in Bajaur District. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, resultantly eleven khwarij including kharji ring leader Sajjad @Abuzar were sent to hell,” it continued. “In another intelligence based operation conducted in Bannu District, own troops successfully neutralized twelve more khwarij.”
The ISPR said “sanitization operations” were carried out to eliminate any other militants in the area, adding the counterterrorism campaign launched by security forces would continue “at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”
