Ten militants killed, six Pakistani soldiers martyred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa security engagements: ISPR

Ten militants were killed, and six Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom during multiple counterterrorism engagements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province between September 15 and September 17, 2026, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

The operations included intelligence-based actions in North Waziristan and Hangu districts, as well as a deadly improvised explosive device attack targeting a military convoy.

What occurred during the intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan and Hangu?

According to the military's media wing, security forces initiated an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan District following credible reports concerning the presence of militants in the area.

Troops surrounded and engaged the designated location, triggering an intense exchange of fire that resulted in six militants killed on the spot. Weapons and ammunition actively used in regional attacks were recovered from the site.

In a separate encounter in Hangu District, security forces successfully neutralized four additional militants, bringing the total number of militants killed over the three-day operational window to ten. State authorities and military officials designated the slain individuals as members of "Fitna-al-Khwarij," the government's official terminology for outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan operatives.

How did the convoy attack occur and what is the status of ongoing security operations?

The military reported that six security personnel made the ultimate sacrifice on September 17 when an improvised explosive device exploded near a passing security forces convoy.

The official statement did not immediately disclose the identities or ranks of the martyred soldiers, nor the exact location where the roadside blast occurred.

Following the attack, security forces initiated comprehensive sanitization operations across the surrounding sectors to track down remaining hostiles and dismantle local support networks. The ISPR emphasized that military and law enforcement agencies will sustain counterterrorism operations under the federal government's "Azm-e-Istehkam" vision to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism and secure the region.