Security forces kill two militants in Bannu intelligence operation

Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Monday that security forces killed two militants during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on April 19, 2026. The operation was launched after reports of the presence of armed militants in the area.

According to the ISPR, troops engaged the suspects in a heavy exchange of fire, resulting in the deaths of two individuals identified as members of the group referred to as Fitna al-Khwarij, which authorities describe as an India-backed militant network operating inside Pakistan.

Among those killed was Waheedullah alias Mukhtiar, described as a senior militant commander and suicide bomber handler. The military said he was on the most-wanted list due to his alleged involvement in multiple attacks targeting both security personnel and civilians.

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Officials further stated that Waheedullah was linked to a suicide bombing in Bannu on February 21, 2026, which resulted in the martyrdom of Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz. The ISPR claimed the latest operation effectively “avenged” that attack and prevented a potentially larger planned incident.

Weapons, ammunition, and a suicide jacket were recovered from the site following the encounter. Security forces have since launched a sanitisation operation to clear the area of any remaining militants and ensure there are no further threats.

The ISPR reiterated that counter-terrorism operations under the national framework “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue across the country. It said the objective remains the elimination of what it described as foreign-sponsored militant networks and the restoration of long-term security.

Authorities have increased surveillance and intelligence-based actions in sensitive districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of ongoing efforts to curb militant activity and prevent future attacks.