RAWALPINDI/KOHAT, March 16, 2026 — Security forces and counter-terrorism personnel killed a total of 11 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, officials said .
The coordinated strikes in Kohat and Lakki Marwat districts dealt a significant blow to militant networks operating in the province, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) .
Kohat Operation: Six Militants Killed After Ambush Attempt
In Kohat district, six terrorists were killed during an operation conducted by the CTD in the Lachi area within the jurisdiction of Lachi police station .
According to initial reports, the terrorists had already taken positions in the area and were lying in wait to ambush security personnel. As soon as the CTD operational team reached the site, the militants launched a sudden attack .
CTD personnel responded swiftly and effectively, while Kohat police rushed to the scene after receiving information about the exchange of fire and joined the operation . Following an intense gun battle, six terrorists linked with Fitna al-Khawarij were neutralized .
A large-scale search and sanitization operation was launched immediately after the exchange of fire. During the search, authorities recovered the bodies of the six terrorists along with a cache of weapons and ammunition, including:
- Four hand grenades
- Six SMG rifles
- Six bandoliers
- Twelve spare magazines
- A large quantity of cartridges
Officials noted that the recovered ammunition indicated the terrorists had planned for a prolonged engagement . The search operation in the area continued to ensure no other militants were hiding in the vicinity, while the process of identifying the slain terrorists and verifying their previous records has begun .
Lakki Marwat Operation: Five Killed in Intelligence-Based Strike
Separately, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat district following reports of terrorist presence in the area .
According to the ISPR, troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ hideout, and after an intense exchange of fire, five militants were killed .
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists, who officials said had remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area . A sanitization operation is underway to eliminate any remaining threats as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam” .
Leadership Praises Security Forces
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both issued statements praising the security forces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, and the CTD for the successful operations .
President Zardari said the elimination of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, who were carrying out terrorism “under foreign patronage and attempting to damage peace in Pakistan with Indian backing,” was an important step toward restoring stability . He reaffirmed that the nation stands “shoulder to shoulder with its brave security forces to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism” .
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the professionalism and bravery of the security forces and CTD personnel for eliminating the terrorists . He reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country .
Context: Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Campaign
The operations are part of Pakistan’s intensified campaign against militant groups under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework, which seeks to eliminate terrorist networks through coordinated military and law enforcement actions .
Fitna al-Khawarij, the term officially used by Pakistani authorities for certain militant groups, has been responsible for numerous attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months. The twin operations Sunday represent a significant success in the ongoing effort to dismantle their operational capacity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa .
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the slain terrorists pending verification of their records and links to broader militant networks .
