16 militants killed, two soldiers martyred in KP

At least 16 India-backed militants were killed and two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom during a series of intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted multiple operations in Mir Ali, Datta Khel and adjoining areas of North Waziristan as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

The military said 12 militants, including two Afghan nationals, were killed during an intense exchange of fire in the Ali Khel area over the past 12 hours. Four other militants were eliminated in separate engagements, with two killed each in Mir Ali and Datta Khel.

However, two Pakistan Army personnel lost their lives while fighting the militants. They were identified as Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, a resident of Swabi, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, from Mardan.

The ISPR paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying they fought courageously and made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the country.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain militants, who were reportedly involved in several terrorist activities, including attacks on civilians.

The military’s media wing said sanitisation operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining militants in the affected areas.

It reaffirmed that security forces would maintain their counterterrorism campaign with full intensity until the threat of foreign-sponsored terrorism was eliminated from the country.

Pakistan has experienced an increase in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) identified the two provinces as the country’s major centres of violence during the second quarter of 2026.

According to the report, KP and Balochistan accounted for nearly 96 per cent of all violence-related deaths recorded during the period.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported more than 61 per cent of the fatalities, with 475 deaths, while Balochistan recorded 265, accounting for 34 per cent.

KP also registered the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57 per cent of the national total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35 per cent.

The figures highlight the continuing security challenges facing both provinces and the country’s ongoing efforts to counter militant violence.