RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s security forces killed five “India-sponsored” terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Monday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on 29 December 2025, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Khar area, Bajaur District, on the reported presence of Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.
The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used by Pakistan’s government and military to refer to the banned terrorist groups, most prominently the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group.
“During the conduct of operation, due to effective engagement by own troops, five Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” ISPR said.
It added that during the intense fire exchange, Major Adeel Zaman (36), who was leading his troops from the front, embraced martyrdom.
According to ISPR, weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, as well as the killing of innocent civilians.
Pakistan’s security forces are currently conducting sanitisation operations in the area to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists.
The funeral prayer of martyred officer Major Adeel Zaman was held today at Peshawar Garrison.
The funeral prayer was attended by Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Commander of Peshawar Corps, alongside military and civil officers and members of the public.
Major Adeel Zaman laid down his life in the line of duty while leading from the front. He will be laid to rest with full military honours in his native town of Dera Ismail Khan.
Following the funeral, Field Marshal Munir visited CMH Peshawar to inquire about the health of officers and soldiers injured during the operation, praising their courage and steadfastness throughout the mission.
Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign
This is part of the ongoing counterterrorism campaign under the vision “Azm e Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
The campaign aims to eradicate the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from Pakistan, with security forces and law enforcement agencies committed to continuing their efforts at full pace.
Cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan
The security forces’ operations come amid a notable increase in terrorist attacks in the country, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban regime took power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan has also resulted in week-long clashes between the two countries in October.
Afghan Taliban regime’s support for terror groups
Pakistan said the Afghan Taliban regime’s continued support for terrorist groups had enabled them to carry out attacks against the Pakistan military and civilian population along the Pak-Afghan border and in adjoining areas.
In March, Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with the number of deaths in terrorist attacks rising by 45 percent as compared to the previous year.
In October, the Islamabad-based think tank Centre for Research and Security Studies said that violence had surged in the third quarter of 2025 due to a spike in terrorist attacks and intensified counter-terrorism operations.
