Pakistan: Security forces have killed seven militants during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to security sources. The operation was conducted under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework, with several militant hideouts reportedly destroyed and weapons and ammunition recovered.
What were the details of the operation?
Security sources said the operation targeted members of Fitna al-Khawarij, whom they described as India-backed militants. Several hideouts were destroyed during the action, and weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for their operation and the killing of seven militants in the district.
Were there other counterterrorism operations in North Waziristan?
The latest operation followed another intelligence-based operation a day earlier, in which security sources said nine militants were killed in North Waziristan. The earlier operations were conducted in Palangzai, Nadeem Kot and Kot Khazri, according to the sources.
How has militant violence developed in Pakistan?
Pakistan has experienced an increase in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 225 militant attacks were recorded nationwide in September 2026, compared with 199 in August, representing a 13% increase. The think tank reported that attacks had risen for a third consecutive month.
What is the key dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan?
Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan maintains that insufficient action has been taken against groups targeting its security forces and civilians.
Despite multiple rounds of talks, the two sides have yet to resolve their differences. The presence and activities of militant organisations operating from Afghan territory remain a major point of contention between Islamabad and Kabul.