PESHAWAR: A soldier was martyred and seven terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Dera Ismail Khan on Monday, the military’s media wing said.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read that the IBO was carried out in DI Khan’s Kulachi area on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij [a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)].

It added that the security forces “effectively engaged the khwarij location” and after an intense exchange of fire, seven terrorists were killed.

However, during the gun battle, 34-year-old Naik Yasir Khan, a resident of Mardan district, embraced martyrdom after “having fought gallantly [and] paid the ultimate sacrifice”, the statement read.

The statement added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead terrorists, who were involved in terrorist activities in the area.

ISPR says seven terrorists killed, arms and ammunition seized

“[A] sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area, as the relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it concluded.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2025