ISLAMABAD: Two terrorists, including a ring leader, were neutralised after Pakistan security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the military said on Monday.
According to the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces conducted the operation on Sunday in Bannu district on the reported presence of terrorists.
“During conduct of the operation, after intense exchange of fire, two khwarij, belonging to Indian sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, including ring leader Waheedullah alias Muktiar, along with a suicide bomber, were sent to hell,” read the statement.
The security forces also recovered a suicide jacket, weapons, and ammunition from the killed terrorists.
The ISPR said that ring leader Waheedullah was among the most wanted terrorists on the list for his active involvement in numerous terrorist activities, including the martyrdom of security forces personnel and innocent civilians.
“He [Waheedullah] was also the main handler of a suicide bomber in Bannu District on 21 February 2026, resulting into [martyrdom] of Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz Shaheed,” it added.
The operation, the military’s media wing added, has “indeed avenged the heinous act and has brought the main perpetrator to justice.”
Sanitisation operation
Furthermore, it said, the timely action of security forces also averted a major catastrophe.
“Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored [terrorists] found in the area,” the ISPR said, adding that the counter terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm e Istehkam” will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
Since the Afghan Taliban grabbed power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.
Amid the rising terror incidents, Pakistan launched “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq”, during which around 684 Afghan Taliban operatives and affiliated terrorists were killed.
