Security forces detected and engaged a group of terrorists in North Waziristan late Friday night after confirming hostile movement through thermal imaging and sustained surveillance, security sources said.
According to officials, the movement of 15 to 18 militants was detected around 10:10 pm near Shadi Khel. The group was initially spotted through a thermal imaging camera at an STS post while moving westward toward Yashkhulla Nullah. As the militants approached a built-up area, their movement continued to be tracked using surveillance quadcopters.
At approximately 10:35 pm, the militants became aware of surveillance and dispersed into nearby vegetation in small groups. Following extended monitoring and target confirmation, security forces carried out multiple precision engagements from nearby positions. The engagement continued for over an hour and concluded around 11:40 pm.
Post-engagement assessments confirmed that nine to ten militants were hit, with four to five killed on the spot. Bodies were observed at the site, while some casualties were reportedly retrieved by fleeing militants. Killed and injured militants were visible in surveillance footage, security officials added.
Significantly, intercepted communications during and after the engagement indicated coordination between the militants and handlers located across the border in Afghanistan. According to security sources, intercepted messages included instructions urging militants to remain concealed and avoid movement.
In one intercepted exchange, a handler was heard saying that arrangements were being made for those who were “not in good condition,” suggesting efforts to manage injured fighters. Another message warned that movement was dangerous at the time and advised militants to stay hidden wherever they were. A separate communication urged urgency, stating that time was limited and actions should be carried out quickly.
Security officials say the intercepted chatter corroborates long-standing concerns raised by Pakistan at international forums that militant networks operating inside Pakistan maintain command, control and support links from Afghan territory.
Compiled surveillance footage and intercept transcripts have been secured by relevant authorities as part of the post-operation assessment.
The incident underscores continued militant activity in the frontier belt of North Waziristan and highlights the role of cross-border coordination in sustaining such networks, despite repeated assurances from Afghan authorities regarding counterterrorism commitments.
