According to the military’s media wing, the operation was carried out on December 15 in the general area of Kulachi on reports of the presence of Fitna al Khawarij terrorists.

ISPR said troops effectively engaged the militant hideout and, after an intense exchange of fire, killed seven militants.

During the operation, Naik Yasir Khan, 34, a resident of Mardan district, was martyred while fighting gallantly, the statement said.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the Indian-sponsored killed Khawarij, who had been actively involved in multiple terrorist activities in the area.

A sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the locality.

ISPR reaffirmed that the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.