ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 10 militants in multiple engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 15 and 17, while six soldiers were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
According to the military’s media wing, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan district after receiving reports about the presence of militants in the area.
During the operation, troops engaged the militants’ position, resulting in the killing of six members of Fitna al-Khawarij following an intense exchange of fire, the ISPR said.
In a separate encounter in Hangu district, security forces killed four more militants, taking the total number of militants killed in the operations to 10.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants, according to the ISPR, which said those killed had been involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
Meanwhile, an IED attack targeting a security forces convoy on September 17 resulted in the martyrdom of six soldiers, the military’s media wing said.
Sanitisation operations were subsequently launched in the affected areas to eliminate any remaining militants, the ISPR said.
The military said counter-terrorism operations under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace.
According to the ISPR, the campaign is aimed at eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
The military said the sacrifices of the soldiers further strengthened the armed forces’ resolve to safeguard Pakistan.
Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, in recent years.
According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces remained the country’s main violence hotspots during the second quarter of 2026, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerging as the worst-affected region.
The report said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan together accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded during the quarter.
Of the total deaths, more than 61%, or 475 fatalities, were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Balochistan accounted for 265 deaths, or 34%.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, accounting for 35%.