Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced on Friday afternoon that security forces had eliminated 24 militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district and nearby areas.
According to the ISPR statement, Bannu has recently experienced a marked increase in militant attacks targeting police and involving suicide bombings.
The statement asserted that “Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij” were responsible for assaults on law enforcement and civilians.
The term Fitna-al-Khawarij is used by Pakistani authorities to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
“Security forces have initiated extensive joint intelligence-based operations to hunt the perpetrators of these heinous attacks and their support infrastructure.
“Accordingly, in the last 24 hours, following fierce fire exchanges in Bannu district and adjoining areas, 24 khawarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna-al-khawarij have been sent to hell,” the statement read.
ISPR added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who had been actively involved in multiple terrorist acts and the killing of innocent civilians.
“The operations in the area would continue and perpetrators of these heinous and cowardly acts will be brought to justice, as the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by 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 statement concluded.
CTD-Police Operation
On Thursday, a joint operation by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and local police resulted in the killing of five militants in Bannu, per a CTD statement.
The slain individuals were identified as members of Fitna-al-Khawarij.
The CTD detailed that a targeted intelligence-based operation was launched following credible information about the presence of militants in the Gulbahar area of Bannu, under the jurisdiction of Hawed Police Station.
The action was executed through coordinated planning to effectively restrict militant movement.
“During the operation, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on CTD’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and local police personnel,” the statement said, noting that security personnel returned fire in self-defence.
After roughly 40 minutes of exchange, a search and clearance operation led to the deaths of five militants and the arrest of several others.
A large police contingent subsequently cordoned off the area, and efforts continued to apprehend fleeing suspects.
Identification, criminal profiling, and forensic analysis of the killed militants were underway.
Recovered items included five Kalashnikovs, 10 magazines, five bandoliers, two hand grenades, and substantial ammunition, all seized for forensic and investigative purposes.
Legal action was pledged against facilitators, financial and logistical supporters, and the broader terrorism network.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and the CTD additional IG praised the SWAT and local police teams. The KP IG stated that intelligence-based operations against militants, facilitators, and support networks would intensify, and perpetrators would be pursued to their safe havens.
He affirmed that the sacrifice of martyrs would not be forgotten and vowed to sustain anti-terror operations.
Bannu has faced repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and security personnel attacked amid a wider rise in militancy.
In the most recent incident, a police officer was martyred and six security personnel plus four civilians wounded when militants struck a police station on Wednesday night.
The assailants attempted to drive an explosive-laden vehicle into Miryan Police Station, causing a blast followed by prolonged gunfire.
Police reported the attackers tried to storm the station but were repelled by a prompt response.
Officer Noor Jamal Khan, critically injured in the attack, succumbed to his wounds per a Bannu police statement on Thursday.
Prior attacks on police and jirga members have prompted targeted operations to dismantle terror networks.
On June 26, seven militants were killed in Baka Khel tehsil.
Security sources said forces acted on intelligence about suspicious movement and struck a vehicle near a government school in Ghora Baka Khel using a quadcopter.
The vehicle held a heavy cache, including a 12.7-mm machine gun, RPGs, and mortar shells.
