Security forces have recovered the bodies of two more Fitna al-Khwarij terrorists during the ongoing counterterrorism operation in Bannu, raising the total number of eliminated terrorists to 50, security sources said on Sunday.
According to the sources, the bodies were found during an extensive search and clearance operation launched after successive intelligence-based engagements against terrorist hideouts in the district. The latest recoveries indicate that several terrorists had been neutralized during recent exchanges of fire, but their bodies remained scattered in difficult terrain.
Security forces have continued systematically combing the area to locate any remaining terrorists, destroy hideouts, and recover weapons, explosives and other militant equipment. The operation remains underway, with additional contingents maintaining a tight cordon to prevent any escape or regrouping attempts by surviving terrorists.
The sustained operation forms part of the broader counterterrorism campaign launched to dismantle the operational infrastructure of Fitna al-Khawarij in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Intelligence-led actions in and around Bannu have intensified in recent weeks following repeated terrorist attempts to target security installations and destabilize the region.
The latest development comes days after security forces successfully repulsed a major terrorist assault on a security installation in Tank District, where an explosive-laden vehicle was intercepted before reaching its intended target. It also follows continuing operations across Bannu aimed at eliminating terrorist hideouts and preventing militants from re-establishing their presence in the district.
Security sources reiterated that clearance operations would continue until every terrorist in the area is accounted for and the region is fully secured. They emphasized that the campaign against Fitna al-Khawarij will continue unabated to ensure lasting peace and deny terrorists any opportunity to regroup or launch future attacks.
