In a major counterterrorism breakthrough, Pakistani security forces eliminated eight most-wanted terrorists affiliated with the Fitna al-Khawarij, or the banned TTP, in an intelligence-based operation in Sultan Khel, Lakki Marwat. The banned TTP is believed to be part of the Afghan Taliban-backed proxy network operating in border regions of Pakistan.
Sources confirmed the operation was launched following credible intelligence about the presence of heavily armed Khawarij in Sultan Khel and Tofan Wala. Aerial and ground surveillance was initiated, leading to swift and decisive action by security forces upon confirming militant movements. A large stockpile of weapons and explosives was recovered from the scene.
The militants killed in the operation were reportedly involved in planning cross-border attacks and had been under surveillance for several days.
The Lakki Marwat action is part of a wider crackdown on Afghan-backed terrorist groups. According to official sources, a total of 102 Khawarij militants have been eliminated over the past four days in multiple operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, many of them having infiltrated from Afghanistan.
Earlier the same day, Pakistani security forces neutralized six more militants in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan. The operation, based on extensive surveillance, also led to the killing of Khawarij commander Mehboob alias Muhammad, a key figure linked to recent terror plots. Three additional militants were injured in the firefight.
In a separate attempted attack in Mir Ali, security forces successfully thwarted a suicide bombing. A militant detonated an explosives-laden vehicle against a military camp wall, followed by an attempted assault by three other Khawarij members. All four attackers were killed before they could breach the camp. No casualties were reported among Pakistani forces.
Security officials confirm that these coordinated operations fall under the National Action Plan and reflect the state’s uncompromising resolve against terrorism. The recent uptick in cross-border infiltration has raised serious concerns, particularly amid ongoing tensions with Afghanistan over unprovoked aggression and safe havens for anti-Pakistan elements.
With the successful neutralization of over 100 militants in under a week, Pakistani forces have sent a clear message: any threat to national security will be dealt with decisively.
