BANNU: Two terrorists, including a ring leader, were neutralised after security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.
According to the military’s media wing, the operation was carried out on April 19 in Bannu district following reports of the presence of terrorists in the area.
“During the conduct of the operation, after an intense exchange of fire, two khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, including ring leader Waheedullah alias Muktiar, along with a suicide bomber, were killed,” the statement said.
Security forces also recovered a suicide jacket, weapons, and ammunition from the killed terrorists.
The ISPR stated that ring leader Waheedullah was among the most wanted terrorists and had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities, including attacks that led to the martyrdom of security forces personnel and innocent civilians.
It further said that he was the main handler of a suicide bomber involved in an attack in Bannu district on February 21, 2026, which resulted in the martyrdom of Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz Shaheed.
The military’s media wing added that the successful operation avenged the heinous act and brought the main perpetrator to justice.
It also noted that the timely action by security forces helped avert a major catastrophe.
A sanitisation operation is currently underway to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists present in the area, the ISPR said, adding that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” will continue at full pace to eradicate the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
Since the Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.
Amid the surge in terrorist activities, Pakistan launched “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” during which around 684 Afghan Taliban operatives and affiliated militants were killed.
More than 900 Afghan Taliban operatives were also injured, while Pakistan destroyed 252 check posts, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed.
In October 2025, the two countries were also involved in border clashes after Afghan Taliban fighters and militants launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistan’s border posts.
The clashes resulted in the killing of over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred while defending the country.
Despite several rounds of talks, both sides failed to reach an agreement due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to take action against terrorist groups.