Hangu: 8 Indian-Backed Militants Killed, 6 Personnel Martyred Including Captain and Lieutenant

Rawalpindi: Eight militants were killed while six security personnel, including two brave officers, were martyred during an intense exchange of fire between a security forces convoy and Fitna al-Khawarij in Hangu district.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on September 20, 2026, a security forces convoy encountered the India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij in Hangu. An effective retaliatory operation by the forces resulted in the killing of eight militants.

According to the spokesperson, during the intense clash, two brave officers leading their troops from the front — 23-year-old Captain Abu Zar Farooq from Gujranwala and 22-year-old Lieutenant Shiraz Babar from Chakwal district — fought bravely and embraced martyrdom along with four other personnel.

The ISPR said a sanitization operation is underway to eliminate other foreign-sponsored militants present in the area. Under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision approved by the Federal Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, the counter-terrorism campaign by security forces and law-enforcement agencies will continue with full force.

The spokesperson reiterated that the eternal sacrifices of the brave sons of the nation further strengthen the unwavering resolve to defend the motherland.