ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight terrorists, including three key commanders, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan, security sources said on Sunday, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.

Security sources said that foreign currency and a large quantity of arms and ammunition were found in the possession of the slain terrorists, belonging to Fitna al Khawarij. The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

With the latest IBO, which was part of the Azm-i-Istehkam operation, the number of Fitna al Khawarij terrorists killed since Friday has risen to 20 as state-run Radio Pakistan reported the killing of 12 terrorists in North and South Waziristan districts on Friday and Saturday.

State media reports foreign currency, a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered from Fitna al Khawarij terrorists

Operation Azm-i-Istehkam was launched in June 2024, symbolising the national resolve to eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended security forces for timely and effective action in D.I. Khan.

The president said the nefarious designs of “terrorists operating under foreign patronage and with the support of local facilitators will never be allowed to succeed”, while the premier said the nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the security forces in the war against terrorism.

KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time.

The province, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

In response to these incidents, security forces have been conducting operations in several parts of the province.

On Sept 26, a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a police checkpost and then targeted an ambulance shifting bodies to hospital in D.I. Khan, claiming the lives of 14 people and leaving 35 others injured.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2026