Pakistani security forces eliminated four terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, intensifying efforts to combat rising terrorist activities in the region following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement.
Four terrorists were killed by the security forces in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, police said.
The operation was carried out based on intel inputs regarding the hideout of terrorists belonging to the banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) in Spinwam town of North Waziristan district in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.
According to the police, one of them was a wanted TTP terrorist mastermind of several attacks on security forces and civilians.
The gunned down terrorists had also laid down a network of underground bunkers, tunnels and explosive traps in the area around Bubali Mosque in Spinwam.
In a separate development, two children - aged 10 and 12 - were killed in a suspected drone strike in the Shahai Tangai area of the Bajaur district on Thursday, police said.
According to preliminary reports cited by the police, the strike was allegedly carried out by the militants.
The incident caused widespread fear in the area, while police and security agencies launched efforts to gather information and investigate the circumstances surrounding the strike. Officials said further details would be shared after completion of the initial inquiry.
Earlier this week, security forces killed 22 terrorists in the North Waziristan district.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, especially in regions bordering Afghanistan, predominantly targeting the police, law enforcement agencies' personnel, and security forces.
Attacks increased after the banned TTP broke a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022.