A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other equipment was also recovered from the possession of slain terrorists
Security forces conduct an intelligence-based operation against Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in North Waziristan. SCREENGRAB
Security forces killed eight Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists during an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in North Waziristan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Pakistan Television (PTV) reported on Thursday, citing security sources.
The operation was conducted after intelligence indicated the presence of terrorists in the area, the sources said, adding that their hideouts were destroyed during the action.
A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other equipment was also recovered from the possession of the slain terrorists, according to the sources.
The sources said the terrorists had attempted to use a mosque as a shield to evade the security forces. Security forces, however, took the sanctity of the mosque into consideration and targeted the terrorists while avoiding damage to the place of worship, the sources said.
The operation was part of continued efforts by security forces against Fitna al-Khawarij in K-P. Security forces remained committed to eliminating Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists from the province, the sources said.
Fitna Al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Security forces continue operations against Fitna Al-Khawarij terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing eight terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, according to security sources. The sources said terrorist hideouts were completely… pic.twitter.com/HTFGQrPqCJ
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) September 24, 2026
Earlier, Pakistan also carried out “precision” aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan after drones launched from Afghan territory entered Pakistani airspace. A day earlier, Pakistan’s air defence systems had shot down eight drones after they entered the country’s airspace from Afghanistan. Security sources said four of the drones were brought down in areas adjoining the Torkham border, while another four were shot down in mountainous areas near the border with Kohat.
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022.
On Sept 18, at least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians, were killed when an explosion struck a mosque at Kohat’s Police Lines during Friday prayers, followed by an attack involving several armed terrorists, according to an initial incident report issued by the DHQ Hospital Kohat medical superintendent and district health officer. More than 100 people were injured in the attack.
Last week, security forces killed 10 terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna Al-Khawarij in multiple engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa between Sept 15 and 17, while six soldiers embraced martyrdom,
Last month, security forces killed 11 terrorists in separate intelligence-based operations in K-P and Balochistan, targeting suspected members of Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan.
