At least five Khawarij were killed and several others injured in a carefully planned security operation in North Waziristan near the Charmina area, close to the border region. According to security sources, the operation was launched following credible intelligence about militant movement along an infiltration route near a forward observation post.
On July 23, a deceptive setup resembling surveillance equipment was installed about 400 meters from the D-3 post. Hidden within this dummy device was a pressure-triggered explosive (Victim-Operated IED) containing approximately seven kilograms of explosives. On the afternoon of August 1, the trap was successfully triggered as a group of five to six suspected terrorists passed through the targeted area. The explosion caused immediate casualties, with some individuals seen fleeing toward the Parang Oba Nullah and Charmina side of the terrain.
Initial assessments confirmed that at least three terrorists were killed in the blast, one of whom was found dead on site. Security teams were quickly mobilized to pursue the remaining individuals. During the follow-up chase, another militant was shot and killed roughly one kilometer from the blast location. Despite thick vegetation and poor weather conditions that later hampered visibility, the team continued to engage the fleeing group until the operation was called off around 7:30 PM. Intercepted communication from the area later indicated that two more of the injured militants may have succumbed to their wounds.
From the site of the encounter and its surroundings, a range of equipment was recovered, including a long-range communication device, a Baofeng radio set, binoculars, two magazines, two grenades, 60 rounds of submachine gun ammunition, and a damaged smartphone. Blood trails were also traced leading toward Charmina and Parang Oba, suggesting additional casualties who managed to escape with serious injuries.
Security officials noted that the operation not only inflicted significant damage on the militant group but also disrupted a known infiltration channel used for cross-border movement. The success of the action, they added, lay in the use of deception and precision, neutralising the threat without risking larger engagements or collateral damage. The incident forms part of the broader effort to reinforce control over sensitive border regions and curb the presence of armed groups operating in and around North Waziristan.
