RAWALPINDI – In a powerful strike against Indian-sponsored terrorism, Pakistan’s security forces killed 14 militants during a targeted operation in North Waziristan, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.
The intelligence-based operation took place in the Datta Khel area. The terrorists belonged to an Indian proxy group known as Fitna al Khwarij. Following heavy gunfire, all 14 militants were eliminated. Officials confirmed that sanitisation operations were still underway to root out any remaining India-backed terrorists in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the bravery and success of the security forces. He said the “evil plans” of the enemies of humanity would be crushed. He vowed that terrorism would be wiped out, thanks to the professional and courageous role of Pakistan’s armed forces.
This latest offensive followed another operation just a day earlier. Five Indian-sponsored terrorists were gunned down in Balochistan’s Mach area, located in Kachhi district. Both operations are part of Pakistan’s broader crackdown on New Delhi-linked terrorism which has seen an uptick in recent weeks.
May 2025 showed a disturbing trend. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militant attacks rose by 5% from April. The institute reported 85 militant incidents in May compared to 81 the month before.
These attacks led to 113 deaths. Among the victims were 52 members of security forces, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four peace committee members. The number of injured reached 182, including 130 civilians and 47 security personnel.
A deeper look at the data revealed troubling patterns. Deaths among security forces surged by 73%. Civilian injuries rose by a staggering 145%, climbing from 53 in April to 130 in May. However, injuries among security forces dropped by 20%, from 59 to 47.
During May, Pakistan’s military operations led to the killing of 59 militants. Five security personnel were martyred. Another seven soldiers and five militants sustained injuries. A total of 52 suspected terrorists were arrested in different IBOs across the country.
The total casualties for May stood at 172. These included 57 security personnel, 65 militants, 46 civilians, and four peace committee members. Militants also kidnapped at least 19 individuals. A concerning aspect of the data was a 78% rise in security forces’ deaths, while militant deaths dropped by 68% compared to April.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the primary targets of Indian-sponsored terrorism. Out of 85 nationwide attacks, 82 took place in these two provinces. Balochistan saw 35 militant strikes, causing 51 deaths. These included 30 civilians, 18 security personnel, and three militants. The province also recorded 100 injuries, mostly civilians.
The government directly blamed India-sponsored militants, particularly Fitna al-Hindustan, for the spike in violence in Balochistan. One of the deadliest attacks occurred in Khuzdar, where a school bus was bombed. The blast killed five people, including three schoolchildren, and wounded many others. The attack shocked the nation and drew condemnation worldwide.
In response, Interior Secretary Captain (retd) Khurram Muhammad Agha declared that Pakistan’s reply to the Khuzdar tragedy would be “decisive.” He warned that the terrorists would fail in their goals.
The Pakistan Army has renewed its pledge to eliminate Indian-backed militancy. Officials promised to bring the masterminds and their facilitators to justice.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused India of funding and directing groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to launch assaults inside Pakistan. Tensions further escalated after the killing of 26 tourists in Indian-occupied Pahalgam, which India blamed on Pakistan.
Pakistan denied the charge and offered a transparent investigation. It urged the global community to take notice of India’s continued support for cross-border terror groups and proxies targeting Pakistan.
