Pakistan military says 74 militants killed in twin counterterrorism sweeps
Security forces have killed 74 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, said a statement by the military’s media wing on Friday. In a breakdown of the casualties, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said 35 terrorists were killed in Mir Ali, North Waziristan district, while eight others were killed in Orakzai Agency during the last 48 hours. “In a determined effort to eliminate terrorist threats and dismantle the khwarij networks, security forces are conducting a series of intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. These operations have been further expanded to the areas of Mir Ali and Orakzai,” said ISPR. Elaborating further, the military’s media wing said that “intense and fierce exchanges of fire” took place, dealing a “significant blow” to the networks operated by the khwarij in the areas. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. A large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives, including homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was also recovered during sanitisation, the military’s media wing said, adding that the recoveries had thwarted the “nefarious designs” of the terrorists to use the materials in terrorist activities. The ISPR further said that sanitisation operations continue in the areas to “eliminate holed up khwarij”. IBOs in Balochistan Security forces have killed 31 terrorists since Nov 3 during a “comprehensive intelligence-based area sanitisation operation” against Indian-backed Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan in the Kurram area of Quetta district, the military’s media wing said. The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. “During the conduct of these intelligence-based operations, multiple terrorist hideouts were effectively engaged and after multiple engagements, thirty one Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Khwariji locations,” said ISPR. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other India-sponsored terrorist found in the area,” the statement read, adding that a relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision “Azm e Istehkam” will continue at full pace to “wipe out [the] menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”. The country’s security environment continued to show considerable volatility from October 30 to November 5, 2026, with renewed terrorist activity in parts of KP and the former tribal districts, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations and changing patterns of militant violence, according to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Per the latest PICSS Weekly Insight, 49 militant attacks were recorded nationwide during the reporting period, compared with 31 in the preceding week. These incidents resulted in 25 fatalities and 21 injuries. On October 8, security forces killed nine terrorists in an IBO in North Waziristan, while a day earlier, 18 terrorists were eliminated in separate engagements in KP and Balochistan.
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Pakistani security forces have killed 74 suspected militants in a series of targeted operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the country's military announced on Friday.
According to the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, the actions were organized using intelligence reports to target militant networks operating in several volatile districts. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, troops carried out operations over a 48-hour period, leaving 35 suspects dead in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district and another eight dead in Orakzai district.
The military stated that heavy firefights broke out during the sweeps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in what it termed a major disruption to insurgent networks in the region. The state uses the term Fitna-al-Khawarij to describe militants linked to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Troops also confiscated an extensive cache of arms, ammunition, and explosive materials, including improvised explosive devices, during post-operation clearance efforts.
In southwestern Balochistan, security personnel eliminated 31 militants since November 3 during ongoing operations in the Kurram area of Quetta district, according to the military. Pakistani authorities frequently allege that regional militant factions in Balochistan receive support and sponsorship from India, describing such groups as Fitna al-Hindustan. The military confirmed that further clearing operations are underway in the targeted sectors to locate any remaining fighters.
Following the announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the armed forces for dismantling militant safe havens and capturing equipment, reiterating that national counterterrorism measures will persist under Pakistan's National Action Plan. President Asif Ali Zardari similarly praised the operations, stating that external efforts to destabilize the country would not succeed.
The expanded military sweeps take place against the backdrop of rising militant violence across Pakistan. Data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies showed a marked rise in insurgent incidents during the first week of November 2026, recording 49 militant attacks across the country that left 25 dead and 21 injured, up from 31 attacks reported the prior week. The think tank noted that heightened unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and surrounding districts has led to intensified responses by national security services.
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VerifiedReported from Dawn (Pakistan).
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