A Pakistan Army captain lost his life while security forces killed seven India-backed militants during a Hangu intelligence-based operation carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Saturday.
According to the military’s media wing, the operation began on August 7 after intelligence reports pointed to Fitna al-Khawarij fighters hiding in the district. Troops moved on the location, engaged the militants directly and eliminated seven of them in the ensuing clash.
Captain Hamza Akram Embraces Martyrdom
Captain Hamza Akram, 27, a resident of Narowal district, was killed during the operation. The ISPR noted that he was leading his men from the front lines and fell while chasing down militants amid heavy exchange of fire.
Security personnel recovered weapons and ammunition from the militants killed in the raid, who the ISPR said had a history of attacking security forces, law enforcement personnel and civilians alike. Once the main engagement ended, troops carried out a follow-up sanitisation sweep of the area to root out any remaining threats.
The military reiterated its resolve to continue counterterrorism efforts nationwide under the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, aimed at dismantling networks of foreign-backed militancy operating within Pakistan.
Three Militants Killed in Separate Mastung Operation
In a parallel development, security forces killed three Fitna al-Hindustan militants and detained 12 suspects during a search operation in the Kambela and Asimabad localities of Balochistan’s Mastung district, according to security sources. The mission formed part of the broader Rad-ul-Fitna-3 campaign.
Troops swept through roughly 68 square kilometres of terrain during the clearance drive across both areas. Sources said two of the three slain militants’ bodies were recovered at the scene, while four others sustained injuries, among them a senior commander identified as Shaukat Mama.
Twelve individuals were taken into custody for questioning as part of the operation, and forces also tore down militant hideouts and removed Fitna al-Hindustan flags from the area.
Rising Violence in KP and Balochistan
Terror-related violence has climbed sharply in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Data from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) shows these two provinces were Pakistan’s primary conflict zones during the second quarter of 2026, with KP bearing the brunt of the impact.
CRSS figures indicate that KP and Balochistan combined made up close to 96% of all violence-linked deaths recorded in that quarter. KP alone accounted for over 61% of fatalities, or 475 deaths, while Balochistan registered 34%, equivalent to 265 deaths.
KP also led the country in the number of violent incidents, logging 151 cases, or 57% of the national total. Balochistan trailed with 94 incidents, making up 35%, reinforcing how heavily militant activity remains concentrated in these two provinces.