Pakistan forces kill 13 militants linked to India in northwestern operation
ISPR said the militants were involved in suicide bombings, abductions and targeted killings, including a deadly Daraban attack in December 2023
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Pakistani security forces killed 13 militants in a targeted operation in the country’s northwestern region, military said, in a significant blow to an India-linked militant network, the military said in a statement on Wednesday.
The operation targeted the Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following intelligence reports of militants linked to India, identified by officials as the group Fitna al Khwarij.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the militants had been involved in suicide bombings, abductions and targeted killings of both government officials and civilians, including a December 2023 Daraban attack that killed at least 23 Pakistan Army soldiers.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.
Security forces are continuing a follow-up sanitization operation to eliminate any remaining militants in the area. Pakistani authorities stressed their ongoing commitment to countering cross-border-sponsored terrorism and ensuring regional stability.
Pakistan has in recent years accused India of backing militant groups on its soil, a charge New Delhi denies.
According to the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), August saw 143 militant attacks across the country - the highest monthly level in over a decade - resulting in nearly 300 deaths, including dozens of security personnel and civilians.
Officials say many of the fighters use Afghan territory as a base to regroup and plan attacks.
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