RAWALPINDI: Security forces have killed 21 terrorists during ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan over the past 72 hours, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.
In a statement, the military’s media wing said security forces engaged multiple terrorist hideouts in the general area of Miranshah and its surrounding localities in North Waziristan.
According to the ISPR, fierce exchanges of fire took place during the operations, resulting in the killing of 21 more militants belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij. Among those killed were four key ring leaders identified as Khalid Raza alias Salar, Muftoon, Musa and Imran alias Ayan.
The military said the elimination of the four senior commanders has dealt a major blow to the terrorist network operating in the area. The government of Pakistan refers to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated groups as Fitna al-Khawarij.
The ISPR stated that the slain ring leaders were highly wanted by security agencies due to their involvement in numerous terrorist activities, including attacks that led to the deaths of security personnel and innocent civilians.
The military further noted that 27 terrorists had already been killed during operations conducted over the previous 72 hours last week. With the latest operations, the total number of militants killed in the ongoing campaign has risen to 48.
Security forces also recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists. According to the ISPR, the militants had remained actively involved in terrorist activities and the killing of innocent civilians.
The military said sanitisation operations would continue in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists hiding in the region and to ensure lasting peace and stability.
Reaffirming its commitment to counterterrorism efforts, the ISPR said the relentless campaign under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace. It added that security forces and law enforcement agencies remain determined to eradicate the threat of foreign-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan.
Earlier this month, on June 2, the district administration imposed Section 144 across the Miranshah subdivision for an indefinite period, restricting movement and traffic due to security concerns.
The move was widely viewed as a sign of intensified counter-militancy operations in North Waziristan, with authorities taking extraordinary measures to prevent any retaliatory attacks amid persistent security challenges in the area.
Before the imposition of Section 144, security forces reportedly foiled a suicide attack targeting a military post near Miranshah, further highlighting the volatile security situation in the district.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s security environment worsened significantly in May 2026 after showing improvement for two consecutive months. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the deterioration was primarily driven by an increase in terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
As both provinces continue to face militant threats, with attacks frequently targeting security personnel and law enforcement officials, the state has stepped up counterterrorism operations across affected regions.
In a separate operation conducted in late May, security forces killed 11 terrorists in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle militant networks in the region.