Pakistan Army kills 23 militants in intelligence-based operations across KP

Pakistan's security forces killed 23 militants during a series of intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations directorate announced. Operations targeted key areas including Datta Khel, Spinwam and Bannu over the past 48 hours.

What happened in the KP intelligence-based operations and who was killed?

Security forces killed 23 militants during intense exchanges of fire across multiple militant hideouts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among those killed was Jan Meer alias Toor Saqib, a highly wanted ringleader linked to multiple terrorist attacks on security personnel and civilians. Authorities had previously announced a head money reward for his capture.

What did security forces recover during the KP operations?

Troops recovered weapons, ammunition, explosives and a large cache of prepared improvised explosive devices from the slain militants. Follow-up sanitization operations led to the discovery and destruction of a network of underground tunnels and bunkers used by the militants. The ISPR said clearance operations are continuing in the affected areas to eliminate any remaining militants.

What is the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy behind these operations?

The ISPR said the operations were launched on credible intelligence to dismantle networks it described as "Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij." The operations fall under the Azm-e-Istehkam counterterrorism strategy, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan. The military reiterated its commitment to eradicating what it termed foreign-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan.