President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz commend security forces for successful operation
Security forces on Sunday killed five terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed group Fitna al-Khawarij during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the military’s media wing said in a statement.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted the IBO on March 15 after receiving reports of the terrorists’ presence in the area.
“During the conduct of the operation, our troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location, and after an intense exchange of fire, five Khwarij were neutralised,” the statement said.
ISPR added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists, who had been actively involved in numerous attacks in the region.
The statement said a sanitisation operation is ongoing to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored Khwarij in the area as part of the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam.”
“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 added.
Read More: Six terrorists killed in CTD operation in K-P’s Lakki Marwat
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended security forces for a successful operation.
In a statement, PM Shehbaz lauded the forces for their professionalism and bravery, and said that under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, Pakistan’s security forces are achieving significant successes against terrorism.
“The entire nation stands with Pakistan’s armed forces in this fight against terrorism,” he added.
The prime minister emphasised the government’s commitment to eliminating all forms of terrorism from the country.
President Zardari said the terrorists were operating with Indian backing and were engaged in attempts to destabilise Pakistan’s peace.
“The nation is united with our security forces in eradicating terrorism sponsored by foreign powers,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also lauded the forces for their professionalism and bravery. “The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with our security forces,” Naqvi added.
Warning the perpetrators and their backers, the minister said: “The fate of Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists is a lesson in death. We will not spare the terrorists or those who support them in any way.”
Also Read: SHO among seven cops martyred in Lakki Marwat IED blast
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022 and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.
The federal government has been consistently raising its voice on international forums against terrorist sanctuaries operating in Afghanistan and using its soil to launch attacks on Pakistan — a development attested to by the United Nations Security Council.
Earlier in a day, at least six terrorists were killed in Kohat during an exchange of fire in a joint operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and police.
On Saturday, six terrorists were killed in an IBO carried out by the CTD in Lakki Marwat. The development came after at least seven police personnel, including the station house officer of Shadi Khel police station, were martyred on Friday when an improvised explosive device targeted a police mobile in the area.
