By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 19 militants in an overnight raid in the restive northwestern district of Orakzai, but the operation came at a heavy cost, with 11 soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, losing their lives in the fierce exchange of fire, the military said on Wednesday.
The clash unfolded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where intelligence reports had pointed to the presence of terrorists from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, which the government refers to as Fitna Al Khwarij and accuses of receiving support from India.
“During the conduct of operation, 19 Indian-sponsored khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops,” the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations office said in a statement. Leading the assault was Lt. Col. Junaid Arif, 39, who was at the forefront with his troops, according to the statement.
He and his second-in-command, Maj. Tayyab Rahat, 33, were among those martyred, along with nine other soldiers: Naib Subedar Azam Gul, 38; Naik Adil Hussain, 35; Naik Gul Ameer, 34; Lance Naik Sher Khan, 31; Lance Naik Talish Faraz, 32; Lance Naik Irshad Hussain, 32; Sepoy Tufail Khan, 28; Sepoy Aqib Ali, 23; and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid, 24.
A cleanup operation was underway to root out any remaining militants in the area, the military added. “Security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” the statement said.
The losses underscored the persistent dangers facing Pakistan’s armed forces amid a sharp rise in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighbouring Balochistan. Violence has escalated since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended a ceasefire with the government in 2022, with militants frequently targeting police, law enforcement and military personnel.
Two reports released last week by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies and the Centre for Research and Security Studies highlighted the intensifying threat. They noted that militant violence in the first three quarters of 2025 had approached the levels seen throughout all of 2024.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mourned the losses in a statement from his office, while praising the forces for eliminating the militants. “The sacrifices of the fearless sons of security forces will never go in vain,” Sharif said. “We will crush the nefarious intentions of Indian-backed terrorists. We will not allow elements that harm Pakistan’s integrity to succeed.”
Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to stamping out terrorism across the country.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of the coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party, also expressed sorrow over the incident in a statement posted on the party’s account on X. He paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and offered condolences to their families. “Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs,” the statement said, adding that he reaffirmed his “unwavering support for the security forces during the ongoing operation for the elimination of terrorists.”
The Orakzai operation comes days after security forces gunned down 14 terrorists linked to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan during an operation in the Zehri area of Balochistan’s Khuzdar. The operation was carried out on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al-Hindustan, resulting in the killing of at least 14 terrorists, while 20 militants were also injured.
Pakistan has witnessed an alarming 46% surge in overall violence in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, as per the latest statistics issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The country reported at least 901 fatalities and 599 injuries, including civilians, security personnel and the terrorists, in a total of 329 incidents of violence, which also included terror attacks and counter-terror operations.
The CRSS report highlights that by Q3, the ongoing year has proven nearly as deadly as all of 2024, with 2,414 fatalities recorded compared to the entire tally of 2024, which reported 2,546 deaths in total.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan — both of which share a porous border with neighbouring Afghanistan — faced the brunt of the terrorism incidents, accounting for more than 96% of the total violence across the country. KP was the worst-hit region, suffering nearly 71% (638) of the total violence-linked fatalities, and over 67% (221) of the incidents of violence, followed by Balochistan, with over 25% fatalities (230) and incidents (85).
Comparing the Q3 statistics with Q2 (616 fatalities), the report pointed out that KP and Balochistan reported the highest increase in casualties, with 64% (from 390 to 638 fatalities) and 21% (from 190 to 230) surge, respectively.
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