Web Desk: Security forces killed a wanted Khawarej commander and four other insurgents during an intelligence-based operation in the northwestern district of North Waziristan.
The operation took place in the Spinwam area near the Afghan border, a region that has long witnessed militant activity and counterterrorism operations.
Security sources identified the slain militant leader as Omar, also known as Jan Mir and Tor Saqib, whom authorities described as a senior commander linked to the militant network referred to by the Pakistani state as “Fitna al-Khawarij.”
Authorities had placed a bounty of 3 million Pakistani rupees ($10,700) on his head, the sources added.
According to security officials, the militant commander had established an elaborate underground network of bunkers, tunnels and explosive traps in areas surrounding the Bobali Mosque in Spinwam.
Security forces launched the operation after receiving intelligence about the presence of armed militants in the area.
Officials said troops encircled the compound using what they described as a coordinated operational strategy before engaging the militants in a firefight that ended with the deaths of all five suspects.
The military has not yet released an official statement detailing casualties among security personnel or whether weapons and explosives were recovered during the raid.
Security sources said Omar, also known as Tor Saqib, was allegedly involved in planning and directing multiple attacks targeting both Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Authorities described him as a “mastermind” behind several militant operations in the region, though independent verification of the claims was not immediately possible.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in its northwestern provinces in recent years, particularly following the collapse of a ceasefire between the Pakistani Taliban and the government in late 2022.
The killing of the militant commander could weaken insurgent networks operating in North Waziristan and contribute to improving security conditions in the region.
They also described the operation as a significant setback for militant groups active under the banner of “Fitna al-Khawarij.”
Pakistan’s military has intensified intelligence-led operations under its ongoing “Azm-e-Istehkam” campaign, which targets militant organizations operating along the country’s western border regions.
Operations against both anti-state militant factions and externally backed insurgent groups remain ongoing as Islamabad seeks to contain escalating security threats in border areas.
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