RAWALPINDI: Nine Indian-sponsored khawarij were killed in fire exchange with the security forces during three separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, according to the military’s media wing.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “An intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted by the security forces in Dera Ismail Khan district on the reported presence of Indian-sponsored khawarij—a term designating terrorists affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
“During the engagement, security forces ‘effectively engaged the khawarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian-sponsored khawarij were sent to hell,” it added.
According to the statement, another IBO was conducted in Tank District, and two more Indian-sponsored khawarij were “sent to hell” by the security forces.
In the third operation in Khyber district’s Bagh area, “our own troops successfully neutralized three more Indian-sponsored Khawarij,” the ISPR said.
The statement added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead terrorists, who were involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.
Last week, 12 terrorists belonging to “Indian proxy” outfits were killed by security forces while two personnel were martyred in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the ISPR had said on Monday.
It added that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted on Saturday and Sunday against the TTP in KP and the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Front in Balochistan.
An IBO was conducted in Lakki Marwat district, during which troops engaged the enemy at its location and sent “five Indian-sponsored” terrorists to “hell,” it said. In a second IBO in the Bannu district, two “Indian-sponsored” terrorists were “successfully neutralized” by the security forces.
It further said that terrorists ambushed a security forces convoy in another incident in North Waziristan district’s general area of Mir Ali, adding that two “Indian-sponsored” terrorists were “sent to hell” after the effective response of troops.
“However, during the intense fire exchange, two brave sons of the soil, Sepoy Farhad Ali Turi (age: 29 years, resident of Kurram district) and Lance Naik Sabir Afridi (age: 32 years, resident of Kohat district), having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom.”
Last month, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused India of activating its “assets” to intensify terrorist attacks in Pakistan, presenting “irrefutable evidence” of Indian state-sponsored terrorism, directed by the Indian military personnel.
Pakistan has been grappling with an alarming surge in terror attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP) ended a ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with the number of deaths in terrorist attacks rising by 45 percent over the past year to 1,081.
A significant improvement was seen in Pakistan’s internal security landscape in April 2025, “as both militant attacks and resultant casualties dropped sharply compared to March”, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
PM, President laud security forces for eliminating nine Khawarij
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Sunday paid tribute to the security forces for killing nine Khawarij in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Khyber districts, said a statement from the Prime Minister Office (PMO).
He said due to the professional expertise of Pakistan’s armed forces, the eradication of terrorists and terrorism was underway at a great pace.
He vowed to foil designs of the enemies of humanity, the statement added.
He said justice will be meted out to the terrorists patronized by India for causing damage to the life and property of the citizens.
He said the government and security forces were determined to completely wipe out terrorism from the country.
In a separate message, President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday appreciated the security forces for killing nine Indian-sponsored Khawarij during three different operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He praised the security forces for killing the nine terrorists of Fitna al-Khawarij during the intelligence-based operations.
He said that operations against the Indian-supported terrorists were commendable, reiterating the national resolve to completely eradicate of Fitna al-Khawarij.
He said, “Our determination to root out terrorist elements and defend the country is unwavering.”
