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Security forces killed 21 India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij militants, including four key commanders, in a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted over the past 72 hours in the Miran Shah area of North Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the military's media wing, troops targeted several militant hideouts in and around Miran Shah as part of ongoing intelligence-based operations being carried out across the district.
It added that following fierce exchanges of fire, 21 more militants, including four terrorist ring leaders — identified as Khalid Raza alias Salar, Muftoon, Musa and Imran alias Ayan — were killed.
"Killed Kharji ring leaders were highly wanted for their involvement in numerous terrorist activities, including the killing of security forces personnel and innocent civilians," the ISPR added.
In a similar operation in the area last week, 27 India-sponsored militants were killed in Miran Shah.
"So far, a total of 48 khawarij have been killed in these highly skilful and precise operations," the military's media wing said on Saturday.
Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the killed India-sponsored terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and the targeted killing of innocent civilians.
“Sanitisation operations continue to eliminate holed-up khawarij from these areas, as the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan) by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the military said.
The IBOs were conducted amid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Pakistan conducted precise and calibrated strikes along Afghanistan's border, targeting hideouts and safe havens of planners involved in recent terrorist incidents in the country. At least 26 militants were killed in the precise strikes, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday.
The minister said that the strikes were conducted in the aftermath of multiple attacks, including the terrorist attack on a Federal Constabulary post in Musa Dara on June 9, 2026, vehicle-borne suicide attacks on a military post in North Waziristan on June 2, 2026, and an attack on a police station in Bannu on May 9, 2026.
Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its KP and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.
Pakistan launched "Operation Ghazab lil-Haq", killing scores of Afghan Taliban operatives and allied militants and injuring hundreds more.
In October 2025, border clashes erupted after the Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistani border posts.
Despite several rounds of talks, both countries have been unable to reach an agreement, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime's reluctance to take action against terrorist outfits.
