Five Militants Killed in Bajaur IBO as Army Officer Embraces Martyrdom in Pakistan’s Anti-Terror Drive

Pakistan’s security forces have killed five militants during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Bajaur district’s Khar area, the military said on Sunday, as the country continues an intensified counter-terrorism campaign along its northwestern frontier.

According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations, the operation was carried out on December 29 after intelligence reports confirmed the presence of militants belonging to Fitna al Khwarij, which the military describes as an India-backed proxy group operating in the border region.

The ISPR said troops engaged the militants effectively, killing five during a fierce exchange of fire. However, the operation also claimed the life of Major Adeel Zaman, a 36-year-old officer from Dera Ismail Khan, who was leading his men from the front.

“Major Adeel Zaman fought gallantly and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” the military said, paying tribute to the fallen officer’s leadership and courage.

Weapons Recovered, Area Being Cleared

Security forces recovered weapons and ammunition from the slain militants, who, according to the ISPR, were involved in multiple terrorist attacks against security forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilians in the region.

Sanitisation operations are continuing in and around Khar to ensure no remaining militants are present, the statement added.

Bajaur, which borders Afghanistan’s Kunar province, has remained a sensitive security zone due to cross-border militant movement and the resurgence of extremist violence in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2022. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly warned that militant groups are attempting to regroup and exploit rugged border terrain to launch attacks.

‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ Counter-Terror Campaign

The military said the operation was part of Pakistan’s broader counter-terrorism strategy under Azm-e-Istehkam, a renewed security initiative approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.

“The relentless counter-terrorism campaign will continue at full pace to eliminate the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from Pakistan,” the ISPR said.

The latest operation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan’s security forces as they confront militant networks amid heightened regional tensions, while also highlighting the continued human cost of counter-terrorism operations in the country’s northwest.