Army captain martyred, seven terrorists eliminated in Hangu IBO: ISPR

• Military says operation launched on August 7.
• Forces seize weapons, ammunition from terrorists.
• Area clearance continues after successful raid.

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Army captain was martyred while seven India-backed terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

The operation was launched on August 7 after security forces received intelligence regarding the presence of Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in the area, the military's media wing said in a statement.

Security forces effectively engaged the militants' hideout and eliminated seven terrorists during the operation, it added.

However, Captain Hamza Akram, 27, a resident of Narowal district, embraced martyrdom during the operation.

The ISPR said that the officer was leading his troops from the front and was martyred while pursuing the militants during the intense firefight.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who had been involved in multiple attacks against security forces and law enforcement personnel, as well as the targeting of civilians.

Following the engagement, a sanitisation operation was conducted in the area to eliminate any remaining militants, the ISPR said.

Reaffirming its commitment to counterterrorism efforts, the military said that security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue operations across the country under the "Azm-e-Istehkam" campaign to eradicate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism.

Three militants neutralised in Mastung

Three militants belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan eliminated, 12 suspects nabbed during Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3 in Mastung, say security sources

Security forces killed three militants belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan and detained 12 suspects during a search and sanitisation operation in Balochistan's Kambela and Asimabad areas in Mastung district, security sources said.

According to the sources, the operation was carried out as part of Rad-ul-Fitna-3.

The forces cleared an area spanning approximately 68 square kilometres during the operation, which involved extensive search and clearance activities in the two localities.

The sources added that three militants were killed during the operation, while the bodies of two of them were recovered. Four others were injured, including a key commander, Shaukat Mama.

They said that security personnel took 12 suspects into custody for questioning during the operation. The forces also removed flags of the Fitna al-Hindustan group after dismantling the militant hideouts from the area.

Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its KP and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.

According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces remained the country's main hotspots for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with KP emerging as the worst-affected region.

The report stated that KP and Balochistan together accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded during the quarter. Of the total deaths, more than 61% (475) were reported in KP, while Balochistan accounted for 34% (265).

KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35%, underscoring the concentration of militant activity in the two provinces.