Eight terrorists were killed and two soldiers martyred during an intelligence-based operation in the Zarmilan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan District on Saturday, according to the military’s media affairs wing.

According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an “intense fire exchange” between the security forces and terrorists took place during the operation.

“Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. Resultantly, eight terrorists were sent to hell,” the press release reads.

It added that two soldiers — 25-year-old Lance Naik Shoaib Ali, a resident of Parachinar in Kurram district, and 22-year-old Sepoy Rafi Ullah, a resident of Lakki Marwat district — embraced martyrdom after having “fought gallantly”.

The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists who “remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and the killing of innocent citizens”.

The ISPR added the sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the vicinity.

“The security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.

On Tuesday, three terrorists were killed by security forces during an IBO in Loesum area of KP’s Bajaur district.

On Monday, three terrorists were killed during an IBO in KP’s Bannu district.

Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country.

Since the talks with the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year, the group intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the KP police and areas bordering Afghanistan. Insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with the TTP.

According to statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank, January 2023 remained one of the deadliest months since July 2018, as 134 people lost their lives — a 139 per cent spike — and 254 received injuries in at least 44 militant attacks across the country.

Earlier this month, the top civil and military leadership reaffirmed their commitment to thwart terror threats and vowed to re-launch the National Action Plan within 15 days to crush militants reportedly coming in from Afghanistan.