HANGU: Security forces killed eight militants in an exchange of fire in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing said the clash occurred when a security forces convoy engaged militants in the district.
ISPR said troops killed eight militants during the exchange.
Six security personnel also embraced martyrdom during the intense firefight. They included Captain Abuzar Farooq and Lieutenant Sheraz Babar.
The two officers were leading their troops from the front during the operation, ISPR said.
Security forces have launched sanitisation operations in the area. The operation aims to locate and eliminate any other militants who may remain in the area.
Recent militant clashes in KP
The latest clash came after security forces killed 10 militants in several engagements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 15 and 17.
Six soldiers also embraced martyrdom during those engagements, according to ISPR.
The military said its counterterrorism campaign would continue under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework.
The Federal Apex Committee approved the framework under the National Action Plan. ISPR said the campaign aims to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism.
The military also paid tribute to the personnel who lost their lives during the operation. It said their sacrifices reflected the armed forces’ commitment to protecting the country.
KP remains major violence hotspot
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained one of Pakistan’s main areas affected by militant violence.
A Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report recorded 774 violence-linked deaths across Pakistan during the second quarter of 2026.
KP accounted for 475 of those deaths, or more than 61% of the national total. Balochistan recorded another 265 deaths.
Together, the two provinces accounted for almost 96% of violence-linked fatalities during the quarter.
KP also recorded 151 violent incidents during the period. That figure represented 57% of all such incidents recorded across the country.
Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35% of the national total.
The CRSS report said violence in KP rose sharply during the second quarter. Fatalities increased from 311 in the first quarter to 475 in the second quarter, a rise of almost 53%.
