Following a major intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan, security forces eliminated 22 terrorists — part of the continued counter-terror drive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (Published Nov 27, 2025) Brief: On 27 November 2025, Pakistan’s security apparatus carried out a significant intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), successfully neutralising 22 terrorists from the group labelled “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a designation the state uses for militants affiliated with the banned Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP).According to the military’s media-relations wing (ISPR), the militants were intercepted at a hideout, and after a heavy exchange of fire, were all eliminated. A “sanitisation” sweep is underway to ensure the area is cleared of any remaining threats.
This operation is part of a broader counter-terror campaign under the federal “Azm-i-Istehkam” plan, aimed at dismantling militant networks operating in northwestern Pakistan. The timing is significant given recent upticks in militant violence and cross-border tensions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly lauded the forces’ success, calling it a blow to terror infrastructure and a reinforcement of state resolve. For many citizens, this development brings hope for improved security — but also underscores how fragile stability remains. The operation’s aftermath and follow-through will be watched closely by both security analysts and the public.
