24 Militants Killed in Fresh KP Operations as Security Forces Tighten Grip on Terror Networks

Islamabad (Qudrat Daily) — Security forces have eliminated 24 militants linked to the India-backed terror outfit *Fitna-ul-Khawarij* during major counterterrorism operations in two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of militants killed in the last two days to 37.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), intelligence-based operations were conducted in Bajaur and Bannu on 16 and 17 November under the national counterterrorism campaign *Operation Azm-e-Istihkam*.

In Bajaur, security forces successfully targeted a militant hideout, killing 11 terrorists, including a key commander, Sajjad alias Abu Zar. A similar major operation in Bannu resulted in the elimination of 12 more militants. ISPR added that sanitization operations are ongoing to ensure that no India-sponsored militants remain active in the area.

Security forces also foiled a major terror attack in Bannu by killing a militant who was planting an explosive device.

Earlier, on 15 and 16 November, separate operations in Dera Ismail Khan’s Kulachi area and North Waziristan’s Dattakhel led to the killing of 15 militants, including senior commander Alam Mehsud.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the Interior Minister congratulated the security forces on their successful operations. President Zardari praised the elimination of 23 militants in Bajaur and Bannu as a reflection of the forces’ effective strategy, adding that killing a key commander in Bajaur sends a clear message to enemies of peace.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that the entire nation stands united with the armed forces in the fight against terrorism, noting that Operation Azm-e-Istihkam continues to deliver significant successes.