Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], March 21: Pakistan security forces killed at least 10 terrorists in an Intelligence-based Operation (IBO) conducted in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Geo News reported, citing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The operation was launched on Thursday after receiving intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area. According to ISPR, the security forces successfully surrounded the terrorists’ location and engaged them effectively, resulting in the deaths of all ten terrorists. “During the conduct of the operation, our troops, after stealthily surrounding the khwarij location, effectively engaged them and resultantly all ten khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR statement read.
Captain Hasnain Akhtar, a 24-year-old officer in charge of the operation, tragically lost his life during the encounter. ISPR also reported that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists, who were allegedly involved in several terrorist activities, including attacks on law enforcement agencies and target killings of innocent civilians.
The ISPR statement further revealed that a sanitization operation is ongoing in the area to eliminate any remaining militants. “The security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism, and such sacrifices by our brave young officers further strengthen our resolve,” the statement concluded.
Pakistan has experienced a sharp increase in terrorist attacks in recent months, particularly in Balochistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. According to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militant attacks surged by 42% in January 2025 compared to the previous month, with 74 attacks recorded across the country. These attacks resulted in 91 fatalities, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Additionally, 117 individuals were injured, including 53 security forces members, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.
The tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly FATA) saw 19 attacks in January, leading to 46 deaths, including 13 security personnel, eight civilians, and 25 militants.