Five terrorists belonging to the banned Fitna al-Khawarij group, a ring leader, were killed in an intelligence based operation in the general area of Maddi, Dera Ismail Khan on the reported presence of terrorists on Friday, the military’s media wing said.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations said that the deceased ring leader was identified as Shafiullah alias Shafi.

“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as target killing of innocent civilians,” said the ISPR

“Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any other Kharji found in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country,” it added.

Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power in Afghanistan.

Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces and militants killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

On December 21, 2024, 16 soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces check post in the general area of Makeen, South Waziristan district.