Pakistani security forces have killed 18 terrorists in separate operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. State media reported the operations on Wednesday, citing security sources. Heavy weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan. The operation targeted the group the Pakistani state calls Fitna al-Khawarij. It was carried out under the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy.

In a separate operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, five terrorists were killed. They belonged to what the state calls Fitna al-Hindustan. Clearance and search operations were continuing in both areas.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces. Sharif said operations would continue until terrorism was fully eliminated. Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks this year, with 225 recorded in September alone.

President Zardari called the operations a clear expression of the firm resolve against terrorist elements. Pakistan recorded 225 militant attacks in September 2026, a 13 per cent rise over August, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.