According to the military’s media wing, the operation began on May 17 after intelligence reports regarding the presence of militants linked to what it described as “India-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij”.
The ISPR said the militants were neutralised during the past 24 hours after an intense exchange of fire in which security forces effectively engaged their hideouts.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed militants, who, according to the statement, had been involved in multiple terrorist activities in the area.
The military added that sanitisation operations were still underway and the area had been fully cordoned off by security forces.
The statement further claimed that evidence collected during the operation showed the militants had intimidated local residents and used civilians as human shields to secure safe passage.
The military described such actions as highly condemnable and said no justification could be given for endangering civilian lives.
The ISPR reiterated that operations under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” campaign would continue to eliminate militancy and foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban administration to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February this year after tensions escalated along the border despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.
