Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan — A Pakistan Army captain and ten terrorists from the banned Khawarij group were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district on Thursday, the military said. The operation, targeting a militant hideout in the Karri Malang area near the South Waziristan border, underscored Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in its volatile northwest.
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The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, reported that security forces launched the IBO based on intelligence about the presence of Khawarij militants—a term often used by authorities to describe hardcore extremists, including members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter groups. “On 20 March 2025, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan District,” the ISPR statement read. “During the conduct of the operation, own troops, after stealthily surrounding the Khawarij location, effectively engaged them and resultantly all ten Khawarij were sent to hell.”
The operation turned deadly when Captain Hasnain Akhtar, a 24-year-old officer from Jhelum district, led his unit into an intense firefight. “Captain Hasnain Akhtar, who was leading his troops from the front, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,” the ISPR said. Known for his bravery and daring actions in previous operations, the young captain’s death marked a significant loss for the military. Three other soldiers were injured in the exchange, sources confirmed.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who, according to the ISPR, were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities, including attacks on law enforcement agencies and targeted killings of civilians. A sanitization operation was underway late Thursday to eliminate any remaining threats in the area. “The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave young officers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR added.
Escalating Violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The operation reflects a broader surge in counterterrorism efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province grappling with rising militancy near the Afghan border. Earlier this month, on March 15, security forces killed nine militants in separate raids in Mohmand and Dera Ismail Khan, though two soldiers also perished. Thursday’s clash in Karri Malang—a rugged, remote area known as a militant stronghold—further highlights the persistent challenge posed by groups like the TTP and its affiliates, which have intensified attacks since ending a ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Local residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions in the early hours of Thursday, though no civilian casualties were reported. The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has noted a sharp uptick in violence, with 79 terrorist incidents recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last month alone, claiming 55 civilian and 47 security personnel lives. Analysts link the unrest to alleged militant sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan—a charge Kabul denies—complicating Pakistan’s security strategy.
A Hero’s Sacrifice Amid a National Fight
Captain Hasnain Akhtar’s martyrdom has drawn tributes from military and civilian circles alike. Described as a courageous leader, his death underscores the human cost of Pakistan’s anti-terrorism campaign. “Such acts of bravery fortify our commitment to rooting out this scourge,” an ISPR spokesperson said, echoing a sentiment shared across social media posts on X, where users hailed the captain as a national hero.
As security forces press forward with their sanitization efforts, the operation in Dera Ismail Khan stands as both a tactical victory and a somber reminder of the stakes involved. With the Khawarij neutralized, Pakistan continues its relentless pursuit of stability in a region long plagued by insurgency.
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