22 India-backed terrorists killed in North Waziristan operation: ISPR

• Military’s media wing vows relentless Azm-i-Istehkam campaign to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism

 RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed at least 22 India-sponsored terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij during an intense exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday, as Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign under Operation Azm-i-Istehkam continues at full pace against terrorists networks operating along border regions.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a sanitisation operation had been underway since May 17 in the Shewa general area of North Waziristan after “credible intelligence reports regarding the presence of khwarij in the area.”

The military said troops “effectively engaged the terrorists’ hideout” during the operation and, after a fierce exchange of fire over the past 24 hours, “22 khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij have been sent to hell.”

گذشتہ چوبیس گھنٹے میں بھارتی سرپرستی میں سرگرم فتنہ الخوارج کے بائیس دہشت گرد جہنم واصل ہوچکے ہیں ۔ مسلح افواج کے شعبہ تعلقات عامہ کے مطابق معتبر انٹیلی جنس اطلاعات کی بنیاد پر، خوارج کی موجودگی کے حوالے سے 17 مئی سے شمالی وزیرستان ضلع کے علاقے شیوہ میں سیکیورٹی فورسز کی جانب سے… pic.twitter.com/HO3f5YMvGf

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 19, 2026

The state has designated the term “Fitna al-Khawarij” for terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to the ISPR, a cache of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the slain militants, who had allegedly remained involved in numerous terrorist activities in the region.

The military’s media wing further said evidence gathered during the operation confirmed that the terrorists had coerced and intimidated local residents, forcing them to provide safe passage and using civilians as human shields.

“Such deplorable acts are highly condemnable and no justification can rationalise the endangerment of public lives,” the statement said.

The ISPR added that the sanitisation operation was still continuing to eliminate any remaining terrorists hiding in the area, while security forces had effectively cordoned off the locality.

Reaffirming the state’s resolve, the military said the “relentless counter-terrorism campaign under vision Azm-i-Istehkam, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”

Alarming surge in militancy

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp resurgence in terrorist violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban-led Afghan administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil, especially those linked to the banned TTP, but Pakistani officials maintain that those concerns have largely remained unaddressed.

Last week, a major-ranked army officer was among five soldiers martyred during an area sanitisation operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district.

In a follow-up operation, security forces arrested at least three commanders of Balochistan-based militant groups, while 35 of their operatives were killed, according to the Balochistan government.

As militancy continues to intensify in KP and Balochistan — with attacks frequently targeting security personnel and law enforcement agencies — the state has further accelerated intelligence-based and ground operations against terrorist networks.

Earlier this month, security forces killed five terrorists in two separate engagements in KP’s Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts, while eight militants were neutralised along the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan in early April.