11 Indian-backed terrorists neutralised in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel IBOs: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 11 terrorists during a series of intelligence-based operations carried out over the past 48 hours in Datta Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, according to the military’s media wing.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the security forces "engaged multiple locations" linked to Indian-sponsored Finta al-Khawarij in the area, leading to heavy fire exchange.

In continuation of series of intelligence based operations, in last forty eight hours Security Forces engaged multiple Khwarijs’ locations in general area Datta Khel, North Waziristan District.

Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, eleven khwarij belonging to… pic.twitter.com/sQHxCp5DRS

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 24, 2026

In continuation of series of intelligence based operations, in last 48 hours security forces engaged multiple Khwarijs’ locations in general area Datta Khel, North Waziristan District.

Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, security forces effectively neutralised 11 terrorists belonging to the India-proxy “Fitna al-Khawarij,” the ISPR said.

The state has designated the use of the term ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to ISPR, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.”

“Sanitisation operations continue to eliminate holed up khawarij from these areas, as a relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the 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 military’s media wing added.

 The development comes a day after the KP Police, flanked by the law enforcement agencies, and members of local militias carried out a joint operation in Bannu in which at least 25 terrorists were killed, including a commander of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, according to the report. A policeman and a volunteer were martyred in the operation, while five people, including a child, were injured.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for the successful intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel area, commending their professional capabilities in neutralising India-backed terrorists.

وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی کی شمالی وزیرستان کے علاقے دتہ خیل میں بھارتی سپانسرڈ دہشتگردوں کے خلاف کامیاب آپریشن پر سکیورٹی فورسز کی ستائش
وزیرداخلہ نے 11 بھارتی سپانسرڈ دہشتگردوں کو جہنم واصل کرنے پر سکیورٹی فورسز کی پیشہ وارانہ صلاحیتوں کو سراہا

— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) May 24, 2026

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the operation, paying tribute to the security forces for eliminating 11 Indian-backed Fitna al-Khawarij militants in the region.

In separate statements, both leaders said operations against terrorist elements operating under Indian patronage were essential for safeguarding national security.

“The war against the monster of terrorism will continue until it is completely eradicated from the country,” they reaffirmed.

Earlier this week, ISPR had reported the killing of another 22 India-sponsored terrorists in North Waziristan, underscoring an escalation in counter-terror operations across the region.

Amid continued militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan—where security forces and law enforcement agencies remain frequent targets—the state has intensified intelligence-based operations under the national counter-terror framework.

Last week, a major-ranked officer was among five soldiers martyred during a clearance operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district. In a follow-up operation, security forces arrested three commanders of Balochistan-based terrorist groups, while 35 operatives were killed, according to the provincial government.

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

The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said in a report that 85 verified terrorist attacks were recorded in April, compared with 146 in March, reflecting a 42 per cent decline. The report said fatalities from such attacks dropped from 106 to 60, continuing a downward trend that had started in the previous month.

According to the report, the improvement followed Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign against militant groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18. It added that the campaign was later followed by a suspension of hostilities and talks in Urumqi, China.