Mazaj News (Web Desk) Pakistan’s security forces eliminated 22 militants during a joint intelligence-based operation in Khyber District, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed on Friday.
According to the ISPR, the operation was carried out on April 21 after reports of militant presence in the area. Troops, alongside law enforcement agencies, engaged in a heavy exchange of fire with the suspects, resulting in the deaths of 22 fighters linked to what authorities describe as “Fitna-al-Khwarij,” a term used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
The statement added that during the clash, the militants opened indiscriminate fire in an apparent attempt to avoid capture, which led to the death of a 10-year-old child.
Security personnel also recovered weapons and ammunition from the site. Officials said the individuals killed had been involved in multiple attacks in the region.
A follow-up clearance operation is ongoing to ensure no remaining militants are present in the area, the ISPR said, reiterating that Pakistan’s counterterrorism drive under the “Azm-i-Istekham” strategy will continue with full force.
Despite a high number of militant casualties, the country has seen a notable rise in violence. Data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies indicates that attacks increased by 34% in 2025, while related fatalities rose by 21% compared to the previous year.
The situation has been particularly severe in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the Centre for Research and Security Studies reported a sharp increase in deaths, climbing from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.
Amid a resurgence of militancy, especially in KP and Balochistan, authorities have intensified operations targeting insurgent groups. Last month alone, 13 militants were killed in five separate operations across KP.
Earlier incidents include a suicide attack in Bannu that claimed the lives of a lieutenant colonel and a soldier during an intelligence-based operation.
In January, ISPR Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry revealed that Pakistan’s security institutions conducted over 75,000 intelligence-based operations in 2025 as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts.