ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed 21 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan over the past 72 hours, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing said multiple terrorist locations were targeted in the Miranshah area and its surroundings.

“Following fierce fire exchanges, in [the] last 72 hours, 21 more khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij, including four kharji ring leaders (Kharji Khalid Raza alias Salar, Kharji Muftoon, Kharji Musa and Kharji Imran alias Ayan) have been sent to hell, thereby causing a significant blow to the khwarijs’ network operating in the area,” the ISPR said.

The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used by the state to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.

According to the ISPR, the slain ring leaders were “highly wanted for their involvement in numerous terrorist activities, including killing of security forces personnel and innocent civilians”.

It noted that since the operations began last week, with 27 terrorists killed over 72 hours earlier, a total of 48 terrorists have been killed in the “highly skillful and precise operations”.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists, the ISPR said, stressing that they remained actively involved in several terrorist activities, including targeting innocent civilians.

Sanitisation operations will continue to eliminate the remaining holed up terrorists from the areas, the statement said.

Bannu operation

An alleged militant commander and two other people were killed in separate incidents in KP’s Bannu district, the local Police Peace Committee said on Saturday.

It added that Shahid, said to be a close associate and facilitator of militant commander Akhtar Muhammad and allegedly involved in several terrorist activities, was killed near Kangar Bridge during an operation on Friday night.

In a separate incident, two bodies were recovered from Domel Link Road. The deceased were later identified as Ghazi Marjan and Parvez, residents of Wanda Sarai Naurang area of Lakki Marwat district. According to reports, the two men had been abducted recently. Police launched an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, partial damage to Teri Ram Bridge and a nearby mosque on Miryan Road was caused when militants attempted to blow up the bridge, sources said. While no casualties were reported, authorities initiated investigations into the incidents.

Muhammad Waseem Khan in Bannu also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026