Peshawar, Oct 8: Nineteen terrorists of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and 11 soldiers were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.
The operation was carried out in Orakzai district, bordering Afghanistan, following reports of militants belonging to the “Fitna al-Khawarij” — a term used for the outlawed TTP — taking shelter in the area during the intervening night of October 7-8, the military’s media wing stated.
An intense exchange of fire ensued, resulting in the elimination of 19 terrorists. However, 11 Pakistani soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, lost their lives in the operation. Security forces are continuing a sanitisation operation to ensure that no militants remain in the area.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the TTP called off its ceasefire with the government in November 2022 and pledged to target security forces, police, and law enforcement agencies.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the worst-hit region in the third quarter of 2025, accounting for nearly 71% (638) of the total violence-linked fatalities and over 67% (221) of the incidents of violence in Pakistan. Combined with Balochistan, the two provinces — sharing porous borders with Afghanistan — experienced over 96% of the country’s terrorism incidents.
The operation in Orakzai underscores Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to curb militant activities along its northwestern frontier, a region that remains vulnerable due to its strategic location and historical militant presence. (Agencies)
