DI Khan: Security forces killed 22 suspected militants during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district on 26 November, the military said on Thursday. According to the statement, the action targeted individuals it described as members of “Fitna al-Khwarij,” a group authorities allege operates as an Indian-backed proxy.
Intense Exchange of Fire Reported
Security officials said troops engaged the suspects after locating their position, leading to what they described as an intense exchange of fire. The military added that all 22 militants were “neutralized” during the clash. No details were provided about casualties on the security forces’ side.
Follow-Up Search Under Way
Moreover, a sanitization operation is continuing in the surrounding area to identify any additional suspects linked to the group, the statement said. Authorities emphasized that the broader counterterrorism drive remains ongoing under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework, which the federal apex committee approved earlier this year as part of the National Action Plan.
Counterterrorism Campaign to Continue
Officials reiterated that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies would maintain what they described as a “relentless” campaign to dismantle foreign-sponsored militant networks. The statement stressed that operations would continue “at full pace” to prevent further instability in the region.
Read more: Three Chinese Nationals Killed in Drone Attack on Tajik Border Camp
