Security forces conducted intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, neutralising 11 militants and recovering arms, amid escalating violence in the region. The terrorists killed in Pakistan was response of intelligence report.
Pakistani security forces killed 11 terrorists in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts and Balochistan’s Kalat district on 24 and 25 December 2025. The actions involved intense firefights, leading to the recovery of weapons and ammunition from the sites.
These terrorists killed in Pakistan represent a direct response to ongoing militant threats in border provinces, where instability has implications for regional security in South Asia, including cross-border tensions and civilian safety.
KP Operations
In Dera Ismail Khan, security forces launched an intelligence-based operation in the Kulachi area on 24 December 2025. Troops engaged a terrorist hideout, killing two militants identified as members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). One of them, Dilawar, was a ringleader with a PKR 4 million bounty for involvement in attacks on security personnel and civilians. Weapons and ammunition were seized from the site.
A separate security forces IBO occurred in Lakki Marwat’s Wanda Amir area on 25 December 2025. Police and the Counter-Terrorism Department’s SWAT team, aided by local peace committees, confronted TTP militants. In the exchange of fire, one terrorist commander, Barkatullah alias Barkati or Abuzar, was killed. His associates fled using the terrain. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.
These KP operations highlight the persistent challenge of TTP activities in the province, where militants have targeted law enforcement repeatedly.
Balochistan Terrorists Neutralised
Security forces conducted an operation in Kalat district on 24 December 2025, targeting Balochistan terrorists linked to separatist groups termed “Indian proxy Fitna al Hindustan” by officials. After surrounding the location, an intense firefight ensued, resulting in eight terrorists killed in Pakistan’s southern province. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered, confirming their role in local attacks.
This action against Balochistan terrorists underscores the province’s vulnerability to insurgent violence, often involving explosives and ambushes on infrastructure.
Related Incidents
In a related development, nine children were injured in a drone strike on a seminary in Tank district’s Shadi Khel village on 24 December 2025. The victims, six boys and three girls, received treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital and were reported stable.
Separately, clashes in North Waziristan on 25 December 2025 injured three security personnel and 20 civilians, including women and children. Mortar shells hit residential areas in Hasokhel, Muski, and Ippi during an exchange between forces and militants. A local leader condemned the civilian targeting and called for peace measures.
Background
Pakistan has faced a surge in terrorism in 2025, with official figures indicating heightened violence compared to previous years. In Balochistan, 248 civilians and 205 security personnel were killed in 432 attacks, including six suicide bombings in cities like Quetta and Mastung. Over 78,000 intelligence-based operations were conducted province-wide, according to government claims.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 1,500 terrorist incidents occurred, resulting in 502 deaths. The Counter-Terrorism Department noted a rise in attacks, with TTP responsible for many. Nationwide, Pakistan recorded over 7,000 terrorist incidents in 2025, a 25 percent increase in violence during the first 11 months compared to all of 2024, stemming from 1,188 events including attacks and counter-operations.
These statistics reflect the broader South Asian context, where militant groups exploit porous borders, affecting stability in neighbouring countries.
Security forces IBOs have intensified under the “Azm e Istehkam” campaign, approved by the federal government, aiming to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism. Recent operations in December 2025 alone neutralised dozens of militants, such as 13 in Mohmand and Bannu districts on 12-13 December, and seven in North Waziristan on 1 December.
The persistence of Balochistan terrorists and TTP in KP operations stems from historical insurgencies, exacerbated by economic grievances and external influences. Government data shows 358 security personnel martyred in 2024, with trends worsening in 2025.
What’s Next
Authorities plan continued sanitisation operations in affected areas to prevent regrouping. Enhanced intelligence sharing and border controls may follow, with potential for more security forces IBOs in high-risk zones.
The operations underscore Pakistan’s commitment to countering threats, as more terrorists killed in Pakistan could deter future attacks and restore civilian confidence.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 26th, 2025
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