Eight terrorists were killed in two separate engagements with security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber and Bannu districts, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that an intelligence-based operation was conducted in the Baka Khel area of the Bannu district on the reported presence of terrorists (Khawarij).

“During the conduct of the operation, troops effectively engaged with the terrorists’ location and consequently killed five khawarij, while nine others were injured,” the ISPR said.

However, Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain (29), having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom, the statement added.

In a separate operation conducted in the general area of Shagai in Khyber district, three terrorists were killed while two others were apprehended by the security forces, it said.

“Captain Muhammad Zohaibud Din (25), who led the troops from the front, fought bravely, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom,” the ISPR said.

According to the statement, the terrorists were involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians.

Sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, it said, adding that security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and “such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthened our resolve”.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for their successful operations in the districts, commending their bravery for eliminating terrorists in two separate operations.

The president and prime minister paid tributes to Captain Zohaibuddin and soldier Hussain and acknowledged their sacrifices, President Secretariat Press Wing and PM Office Media Wing said in separate press releases.

President Zardari emphasised that the sacrifices of the martyrs for the country’s security would not be in vain and that the entire nation would remember the those who laid down their lives.

He reiterated the commitment to continue operations till the eradication of terrorism and assured that they would stand with their brave security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks in Jannah and patience for their families.

The fight against terrorism will continue till the complete eradication of terrorism, the press release quoted the prime minister as saying.

The prime minister said everyone was proud of the brave officers and soldiers, adding that the sacrifices of martyrs would never be forgetten.

He said the nefarious designs of terrorists and enemies to spread chaos would never succeed, reiterating that the entire nation stood with their armed forces in the fight against terrorism.

In July, the government, through an official notification, designated the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna al Khawarij, while mandating all institutions to use the term khariji (outcast) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on Pakistan.

The country has lately witnessed a sharp uptick in the number of attacks targeting security forces, other law enforcement agencies, and security checkpoints, particularly in Balochistan and KP.

Attacks escalated after the TTP broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 and vowed to target security forces.

Earlier this month, security forces killed 10 terrorists and injured eight others during three different engagements in North Waziristan.

On Nov 7, security forces killed five terrorists during an exchange of fire in South Waziristan, while four soldiers were martyred in the operation.

In another incident on Nov 4, security forces killed seven terrorists in separate operations, with one terrorist killed in Balochistan and the other six killed during two operations in KP.

Likewise, on November 2, four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in KP’s South Waziristan region.