Security forces killed 31 militants linked to the Indian proxy group Fitna al Khwarij in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on September 13 and 14, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Monday.
According to the military’s media wing, the first operation was carried out in Lakki Marwat district on reports of militant presence. Fourteen fighters were killed after an intense exchange of fire as troops engaged the hideout.
Another operation was conducted in Bannu district where 17 more militants were eliminated. ISPR said sanitisation operations were underway to clear the area and reaffirmed that security forces remained committed to eradicating Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.
The rise in cross-border attacks has troubled Pakistan since the return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned Kabul against allowing its soil to be used for terrorism, saying Afghanistan must choose between siding with militants or supporting Pakistan.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for more than four decades, from the Soviet war to the Taliban takeover in 2021. Under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, over 554,000 Afghans have returned since April 2025, including 145,000 in August.
Security officials maintain that masterminds of attacks are based in Afghanistan with Indian backing. A United Nations Security Council monitoring team has also reported links between Kabul and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, including financial and logistical support.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies noted a 74% surge in militant incidents in August compared to July. The think tank reported 194 fatalities from militant attacks during the month.
