Ten India-sponsored militants killed in KP operations, says ISPR

• Six militants killed during IBO in North Waziristan: ISPR
• Four more militants killed in separate encounter in Hangu.
• Six soldiers martyred when IED struck security convoy on September 17.

Security forces killed 10 militants belonging to the India-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij in multiple engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 15 and 17, while six soldiers were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.

According to the military’s media wing, an intelligence-based operation was conducted in North Waziristan district following reports about the presence of militants in the area.

During the operation, security forces effectively engaged the militants’ position, killing six members of Fitna al-Khawarij after an intense exchange of fire, the ISPR said.

In a separate encounter in Hangu district, security forces killed four more militants, bringing the total number of terrorists eliminated during the operations to 10.

The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants killed during the operations. The militants, it added, had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.

Meanwhile, an IED exploded on a security forces convoy on September 17, resulting in the martyrdom of six soldiers, according to the military’s media wing.

Sanitisation operations are under way to eliminate any other militants who may still be present in the areas, the ISPR said.

The military said the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace.

The campaign, it said, aims to eliminate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

The ISPR said the sacrifices of the soldiers further reinforced the armed forces’ commitment to safeguarding the country.

Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its KP and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.

According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces remained the country's main hotspots for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with KP emerging as the worst-affected region.

The report stated that KP and Balochistan together accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded during the quarter. Of the total deaths, more than 61% (475) were reported in KP, while Balochistan accounted for 34% (265).

KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35%, underscoring the concentration of militant activity in the two provinces.