ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces killed eight militants in an intelligence-based operation in the restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Friday, vowing to completely eliminate extremist violence from the country.
The operation in the Tank district led to a heavy exchange of fire with militants that Pakistan claims are backed by neighboring India who frequently launch attacks on security forces, law enforcement personnel and civilians. New Delhi denies the claim.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in militant violence in KP, which borders Afghanistan, and struggled against groups like the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella network of various armed groups, which the government calls “khwarij.”
The term is rooted in early Islamic history and used to describe an extremist sect that rebelled against legitimate authority and declared other Muslims to be apostates.
“On 24 October 2025, on reported presence of Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij, Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Tank District,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
