A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.
According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, security forces launched the operation following reports of the presence of militants affiliated with Fitna al Khwarij, described by the ISPR as an Indian-sponsored proxy group.
During the operation, troops engaged the militants’ hideout, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire. “After an intense firefight, seven khwarij were sent to hell,” the statement said.
During the encounter, Naik Yasir Khan, 34, fought bravely and embraced martyrdom, the ISPR added.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were reportedly involved in multiple terrorist activities in the area. The military said sanitisation operations are ongoing to ensure no other militants remain in the vicinity.
Reaffirming its commitment to counterterrorism, the ISPR stated that the armed forces and law enforcement agencies will continue their operations under the framework of “Azm-e-Istehkam” to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban administration to prevent the use of Afghan territory for launching attacks against Pakistan. The issue has recently contributed to heightened tensions, including cross-border incidents and retaliatory actions by Pakistani forces.
Meanwhile, a recent gathering of Afghan religious scholars at Kabul University stressed that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used to threaten or harm other countries. Pakistan welcomed the declaration as a positive step but expressed concern that similar assurances made in the past had not been fulfilled.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi reiterated Islamabad’s stance during a weekly briefing on December 11, calling for written guarantees from Kabul that Afghan territory would not be used by militant groups to carry out attacks against Pakistan.
