DI Khan Operation: Eight Terrorists, Three Commanders Killed
Security forces killed eight terrorists, including three key commanders of Fitna al-Khawarij, in the DI Khan operation on Sunday.
The operation was carried out after intelligence reports pointed to the presence of militants in the district, security sources said. Troops moved in on the hideout and engaged the suspects, killing all eight. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the site, along with foreign currency.
The dead belonged to Fitna al-Khawarij, the name the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Sources said the three commanders were senior figures in the network’s local command structure, and their deaths will disrupt its ability to plan and carry out attacks in the area.
Leadership reacts
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the forces for the successful operation.
President Zardari commended the personnel for eliminating the eight militants and recovering the weapons. He said the nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the security forces in the fight against terrorism, and called for continuing operations against Fitna al-Khawarij with full force.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the bravery and resolve of the security personnel. He said the complete eradication of terrorism was essential for peace and stability in the country.
Mohsin Naqvi praised the professional capability of the forces. He noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained on the front line against terrorism and said the forces were determined to root out the menace.
The DI Khan operation and a difficult September
The Dera Ismail Khan action came a day after security forces killed 11 militants in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Those operations were carried out in South Waziristan and the Gorindar-Mashkel area under the ongoing campaign against militant networks.
The back-to-back operations reflect the scale of the challenge. Pakistan recorded its highest monthly number of militant attacks in 12 years during September 2026. Data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank, counted 225 militant attacks across the country in September, compared with 199 in August, an increase of 13 per cent. It was the third consecutive monthly rise.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent Afghan territory from being used by militant groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban authorities have disputed that position. The disagreement remains one of the most difficult points in the relationship between the two countries.
What happens next
Sanitisation operations are continuing in the Dera Ismail Khan area to clear any remaining militant presence. Security forces have said the campaign against Fitna al-Khawarij will continue at full pace under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, the national framework for counterterrorism operations approved by the apex committee.
Related
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Frequently asked questions
What happened in the DI Khan operation?
Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday, October 4, 2026, killing eight terrorists of Fitna al-Khawarij, including three key commanders. Weapons, ammunition and foreign currency were recovered.
Who are Fitna al-Khawarij?
Fitna al-Khawarij is the term used by the Pakistani state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been behind a large share of militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
What was recovered during the operation?
Security sources said a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the killed militants, along with foreign currency.
How has militancy trended in recent months?
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies recorded 225 militant attacks in September 2026, the highest monthly figure in 12 years and the third consecutive monthly increase.
