(By Web Desk – Apr 20,2026)
BANNU: Two terrorists, including a high-value ringleader, were killed during a targeted intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the military’s media wing confirmed on Monday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the operation was initiated on April 19 following reports of militant presence in the area. The encounter resulted in an intense exchange of fire, leading to the elimination of two members of the Indian-sponsored “Fitna-al-Khwarij.” The deceased were identified as ringleader Waheedullah, alias Muktiar, and an associated suicide bomber. Following the skirmish, security forces recovered a suicide jacket, weapons, and a significant quantity of ammunition.
According to military records, Waheedullah was a top-tier commander on the most-wanted list, implicated in several high-profile attacks against both security personnel and civilians. He was specifically named as the lead handler for the suicide bombing on February 21, 2026, which claimed the life of Lieutenant Colonel Gul Faraz. The ISPR stated that the successful mission has brought a key perpetrator to justice and averted a potential large-scale disaster.
The operation is part of the ongoing “Azm-e-Istehkam” campaign, designed to eradicate foreign-sponsored militancy. A sanitization effort remains underway to clear any remaining threats from the vicinity.
The surge in regional instability follows the 2021 shift in Afghan leadership, which has led to increased cross-border incidents in KP and Balochistan. In response, Pakistan’s “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq” has resulted in the elimination of 684 militants and the destruction of 252 check posts, as confirmed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Despite heavy losses on both sides during border clashes in late 2025, diplomatic progress remains stalled due to the Afghan regime’s reluctance to dismantle terrorist infrastructure within its borders.
