Six militants killed in DI Khan raid, two soldiers martyred

Security forces killed six militants in an intelligence-based operation in the Zarkani area of Dera Ismail Khan district on October 24, while two soldiers died in the exchange of fire, the military's Inter-Services Public Relations said.

ISPR identified the dead soldiers as Naik Ghulam Murtaza, 36, a resident of Gujrat district, and Sepoy Taseer Ahmed, 30, from Talagang. It said both were killed during an intense firefight.

According to ISPR, the operation was mounted on intelligence about the presence of fighters it described as "Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna Al Khwarij." Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead, and the military wing said the militants had been involved in attacks on security forces and law enforcement agencies as well as the killing of civilians. A sanitisation operation was under way to find any remaining fighters, it said, as part of the counter-terrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam.

Reports differed on the number of militants killed. The Express Tribune's main report and Geo News both put the figure at six, while a second Express Tribune report on the same operation said seven militants were killed. The paper did not explain the difference. Minute Mirror reported the ISPR statement on Monday, while the Express Tribune and Geo News carried it on Sunday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces and offered condolences to the families of the two soldiers. "The entire nation salutes the sacrifices of our brave soldiers. The sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain," his office quoted him as saying. He restated his commitment to eliminating militancy under Azm-e-Istehkam.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute, saying the two soldiers had foiled the enemy's designs by giving their lives. "The martyrs are our honour and pride," he said, adding that the nation was proud of the professional capabilities and courage of the security forces.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif lauded the security forces for the operation, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Separately, Minute Mirror reported that security forces killed a militant commander, Adil Shah alias Darvesh, in an intelligence-based operation in Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan. Quoting security sources, it said he had been associated with Fitna al-Khwarij since December 2020 and had handled the group's financial affairs since 2024, that 19 first information reports had been registered against him in anti-terrorism courts, and that a bounty of Rs2.5 million had been announced for his capture. Those details could not be independently verified.