Security forces foiled a suicide attack by Fitna al Khawarij on a military post near Miranshah in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, security sources said on Tuesday.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

As per security sources, the terrorists attempted to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post. However, security forces took timely action and destroyed the vehicle before it could reach the target, they said.

During the operation, four terrorists were killed, and security forces were on high alert, due to which the attack was thwarted.

Security sources further stated that the terrorists attempted the attack fearing the success of operations around Miranshah over the past few days, adding that over 20 terrorists have been killed in these operations so far.

According to security sources, further operations were underway in the area, and the perpetrators of the attack and their facilitators would be brought to justice.

Section 144 imposed for indefinite period

The district administration has imposed Section 144 for an indefinite period in Miranshah subdivision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan, restricting all movement and traffic amid security concerns.

According to an order issued by North Waziristan Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Yousaf Karim on Tuesday, the measures were “necessary to ensure public safety, maintain law and order, and facilitate the secure movement of security forces in the area”.

Under the order, the movement of all individuals and vehicles has been banned until further notice. However, security personnel, emergency services — including ambulances and fire brigades — and those with prior permission from the district police or security forces have been exempted from the restrictions.

The order directed exempted individuals to carry their national identity cards and vehicle documents at all times. It also instructed motorists to maintain a minimum distance of 50 metres from security forces’ vehicles upon encountering them.

The order warned that violators would face legal action under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Officials added that the restrictions were also aimed at ensuring the success of ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against suspected militant hideouts in Miranshah subdivision and to avert any untoward incident.

Residents said mobile phone services in Miranshah and adjoining areas had remained suspended for the past two days in the wake of the ongoing operations, hampering communication and daily life.

Locals urged the authorities to restore telecommunications services once the security situation normalises.

The measures are widely seen as indicative of an intensification of counter-militancy operations in North Waziristan, with the administration taking extraordinary precautions to forestall any retaliatory action.

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Last week, at least eight militants, including two Afghan nationals belonging to the banned Tariq Gidar group — an affiliate of TTP were killed in KP’s Darra Adamkhel area in an operation. On May 19, security forces killed 22 India-sponsored terrorists in North Waziristan.

According to the monthly security assessment released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Pakistan’s security situation deteriorated sharply in May, driven primarily by escalating terrorist violence in KP and Balochistan.