- Four soldiers martyred, including a Major, in Balochistan and North Waziristan.
- Eight militants were killed in Kolpur, Balochistan, and 16 in North Waziristan.
- The Major and a havildar were killed in an armed quadcopter attack on a patrol.
- Police in Bannu separately foiled an attack on a checkpoint, killing four militants.
The four soldiers martyred, including a major, and 24 militants killed in intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan and North Waziristan were announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. The operations form part of a continuing campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In this article
Political and military leaders paid tribute to the martyred personnel and vowed to continue operations against what they described as foreign-sponsored terrorism.
Soldiers martyred in Balochistan: Kolpur operation and drone attack
According to the ISPR, armed forces have been conducting multiple IBOs since November 13 around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki. These include area domination and patrolling of the Quetta-Taftan National Highway (N-40), aimed at keeping the route secure for local traffic and sustaining operations.
On the night of November 13/14, security forces killed eight militants of what the state calls Fitna al Hindustan, including a suicide bomber, in Kolpur. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered. The state uses the label for Balochistan-based militant groups and alleges that India backs them.
On November 14, the ISPR said, the militants targeted military vehicles on patrol with armed quadcopters. Major Omer Minhas Nasir, from Chakwal district, and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan, from Kotli Sattian, were martyred in the attack. They are the two soldiers martyred in Balochistan.
This cowardly act has not shaken the resolve of the security forces. The tempo of operations will be maintained and IBOs will continue with the same vigour to secure the local population and eliminate the menace of terrorism.
ISPR statement
North Waziristan: 16 militants killed and two soldiers martyred
In a separate statement, the ISPR said security forces engaged several militant locations around Mir Ali, Datta Khel and nearby areas of North Waziristan. In the last twelve hours, 12 militants were killed in Ali Khel, two of them Afghan nationals, while two each were killed in Mir Ali and Datta Khel.
The military said the militants belonged to Fitna al Khawarij, the state's term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain men, who the ISPR said had been involved in numerous attacks, including the killing of civilians.
The two soldiers martyred in these engagements were Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, from Swabi, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, from Mardan. The ISPR said sanitisation operations will continue to clear remaining militants from the areas.
Bannu checkpoint attack foiled
Separately, police foiled an overnight attack on the Kanger Bridge checkpoint in Bannu, killing four militants, according to the KP Police Director of Public Relations. Personnel at the checkpoint responded promptly and repulsed the assault.
Police recovered four Kalashnikovs, hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition from the slain militants. The Quick Response Force, Rapid Response Force and extra personnel from Bannu Police Lines cordoned off the area and began a search operation.
Who were the soldiers martyred?
The ISPR named the four men, and their ranks, home areas and areas of operation are listed below.
| Name | Rank | Home district/area | Area of operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omer Minhas Nasir | Major | Chakwal | Balochistan |
| Muhammad Adnan Khan | Havildar | Kotli Sattian | Balochistan |
| Asmat Ali (43) | Havildar | Swabi | North Waziristan |
| Aftab Ali (32) | Naik | Mardan | North Waziristan |
Reaction to the soldiers martyred and official resolve
In its statement the ISPR said the attack had not shaken the security forces' resolve and that operations would continue "with the same vigour". It alleged that India and other hostile intelligence agencies were backing the militants with funding and modern equipment, including drones and IEDs. The security forces, it said, would deny the militants space whatever means they used.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces and offered condolences to the families of the soldiers martyred. He described the sacrifices of officers and soldiers as a source of pride for the entire nation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said operations against externally sponsored terrorism would continue with full force until its complete elimination.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the drone attack on the military convoy in Kirdgap, Mastung. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti called the killing of the eight militants a significant step forward and said there would be no compromise on peace and stability in the province. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the martyrs' blood was a guarantee for the protection of the homeland.
Timeline
- November 3Security forces launch an operation in Balochistan in which 31 militants were later reported killed.
- November 13IBOs begin around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki; the ISPR reports 74 militants killed across KP and Balochistan.
- Night of November 13/14Eight militants, including a suicide bomber, are killed in Kolpur.
- November 14An armed quadcopter attack on a patrol martyrs Major Omer Minhas Nasir and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan.
- November 14The ISPR reports 16 militants killed and two soldiers martyred in North Waziristan.
Explained: the soldiers martyred and the operations behind them
The ISPR describes the operations as intelligence-based operations, or IBOs. In Balochistan, they have been under way since November 13 around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki, and include area domination and patrolling of the Quetta-Taftan National Highway (N-40). In North Waziristan, security forces engaged several militant locations around Mir Ali, Datta Khel and nearby areas.
The soldiers martyred came from different parts of the country. Major Omer Minhas Nasir was from Chakwal district and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan from Kotli Sattian, while Havildar Asmat Ali was from Swabi and Naik Aftab Ali from Mardan. The ISPR said the militants in North Waziristan had been involved in numerous attacks, including the killing of civilians.
Wider security picture
The operations that left four soldiers martyred came a day after the ISPR said 74 terrorists had been killed in IBOs in KP and Balochistan. That tally comprised 43 killed over 48 hours in KP, including 35 in Mir Ali and eight in Orakzai, and 31 killed in Balochistan in an operation launched on November 3.
Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence since the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. A Centre for Research and Security Studies report said KP and Balochistan accounted for nearly 96% of violence-related fatalities in the second quarter of 2026, with 475 deaths in KP and 265 in Balochistan.
The ISPR said clearance operations in Balochistan will continue until the threat is neutralised, and sanitisation operations in North Waziristan will go on to remove remaining militants. It said the counterterrorism campaign under Azm-i-Istehkam will continue at full pace.
Questions and answers
How many soldiers martyred and militants killed were reported?
The ISPR reported four soldiers martyred, including a major. It said 24 militants were killed: eight in Kolpur, Balochistan, and 16 in North Waziristan.
How were the soldiers martyred in Balochistan?
The ISPR said militants targeted military vehicles on patrol with armed quadcopters on November 14. Major Omer Minhas Nasir and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan were martyred.
Who were the soldiers martyred in North Waziristan?
They were Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, from Swabi, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, from Mardan. They were martyred in engagements around Mir Ali, Datta Khel and nearby areas.
What are Fitna al Hindustan and Fitna al Khawarij?
These are state terms. Fitna al Hindustan is used for Balochistan-based militant groups that the state alleges are backed by India. Fitna al Khawarij is used for members of the banned TTP.
What happened in Bannu?
Police foiled an overnight attack on the Kanger Bridge checkpoint in Bannu, killing four militants, according to the KP Police Director of Public Relations. Four Kalashnikovs, hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered.
What did the leadership say about the operations?
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said operations against externally sponsored terrorism would continue with full force. The ISPR said the tempo of operations would be maintained.
Image: Rizwan Ullah Wazir / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
